This is a list of English flags, including symbolic national and sub-national flags, standards and banners used exclusively in England. The College of Arms is the authority on the flying of flags in England and maintains the only official register of flags. It was established in 1484 and as part of the Royal Household operates under the authority of The Crown. A separate private body called the Flag Institute, financed by its own membership, also maintains a registry of United Kingdom flags that it styles 'the UK Flag Registry', though this has no official status under English law.
Certain classes of flag enjoy a special status within English planning law and can be flown without needing planning permission as advertisements. These include any country's national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign; the flag of the Commonwealth, the United Nations or any other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member; a flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom; the flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom; the flag of St David; the flag of St Patrick; the flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom; any flag of His Majesty's Armed Forces; the Armed Forces Day flag; and the flags of the National Health Service. The flag of the European Union previously held this special status but this was revoked and instead granted to the flags of the NHS on 24 March 2021, owing to heightened advocacy for the latter institution brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union on 31 January 2020. The flag of the Council of Europe, identical to the flag of the European Union, is allowed to be flown however.
National flag FlagDateUseDescription 1417–Present Flag of England(also known as the St George's Cross) A centred red cross on a white background, 3:5.[ Flag of England] A vertical centred red cross on a white background.
Royal banner FlagDateUseDescription 1042–1066 Former Royal Banner of England (Attributed) A golden cross with fleur-de-lis ends over a blue field, surrounded by five golden martlets. This former Royal Banner was used by St Edward the Confessor, one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. circa 1200 Present Royal Banner of England Three gold lions (or leopards) passant on a red field. The Royal Banner of England is based on the Royal arms of England. The banner is neither a national flag or a royal standard, and only represents the ruling monarch exclusively in England. The Banner of England is included within the current Royal Standard, along with heraldic devices from the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom.
Royal standards FlagDateUseDescription Standard of the Duchy of Lancaster The Royal Banner of England, with a three-point label, each containing three fleurs-de-lis 1305 Standard of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports A banner of the Lord's coat of arms, featuring three lions passant guardant conjoined to three hulls, all in gold
Church FlagDateUseDescription 1417–Present Flag of England(also known as the St George's Cross) A centred red cross on a white background, 3:5. Churches belonging to the Church of England which have a pole may fly St George's Cross. A desirable variant is for the church to fly the flag with the arms of the diocese in the canton (left-hand upper corner). Flag of Westminster Abbey Tudor arms between Tudor roses, above arms attributed to Edward the Confessor Flag of the Church of St Margaret, Westminster Abbey A blue flag defaced in the centre with a gold dragon's head pierced by a cross, and a gold crowned portcullis in the canton. 2014 Flag of Exeter Cathedral The coat of arms of Exeter Cathedral on a field of blue. Flag of Southwark Cathedral A banner of the Cathedral's coat of arms. Flag of Worcester Cathedral The Cross of Saint George defaced with the coat of arms of Worcester Cathedral in the canton. 2013 Flag of the Church of St James the Great, Birlingham The Cross of Saint George impaled with a blue field defaced with three gold scallop shells of Saint James (two on the left and one on the right). Flag of St James Church, Quedgeley Three gold scallop shells of Saint James (two above and one below) on a field of red. Flag of Saint Aldhelm A white cross on a red field. 2021 Flag of Saint Augustine of Canterbury A white cross on a black field with a gold bishop's pallium topped by a small gold cross in the canton. Flag of Saint Edmund the Martyr A red Saint George's Cross on a white field, defaced in the centre with a blue shield bearing two crossed gold arrows passing through a gold crown. Flag of Saint Peter, Westminster Abbey Two crossed gold keys beneath a gold ring on a field of red. The symbols represent the two Patron Saints of the Abbey: the ring of Saint Edward the Confessor (founder of the Abbey), and the keys of Saint Peter. Flag of Saint Richard of Chichester A white cross on a red field with a white chalice in each quarter.
Dioceses of the Church of England FlagDateUseDescription Flag of the Diocese of Bath and Wells Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Bath and Wells in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Birmingham Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Birmingham in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Blackburn Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Blackburn in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Bradford Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Bradford in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Bristol Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Bristol in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Canterbury Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Canterbury in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Carlisle Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Carlisle in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Chelmsford Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Chelmsford in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Chester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Chester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Chichester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Chichester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Coventry A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms. Flag of the Diocese of Derby Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Derby in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Durham A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms. Flag of the Diocese of Ely Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Ely in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Exeter Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Exeter in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Gloucester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Gloucester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Guildford Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Guildford in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Hereford Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Hereford in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Leeds Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Leeds in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Leicester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Leicester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Lichfield Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Lichfield in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Lincoln Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Lincoln in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of London Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of London in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Manchester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Manchester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Newcastle Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Newcastle in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Norwich Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Norwich in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Oxford Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Oxford in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Portsmouth Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Portsmouth in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of RochesterCross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Rochester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of SalisburyCross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Salisbury in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Sheffield Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Sheffield in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of SouthwarkCross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Southwark in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of St AlbansCross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of St Albans in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of TruroCross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Truro in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Winchester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Winchester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of Worcester Cross of St. George with the heraldic shield of the Diocese of Worcester in the canton. Flag of the Diocese of York A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.
Regional flags Flags of the former heptarchy of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms are registered as provincial flags: FlagDateRepresentsDescription 1900s The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty. Three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St George's Cross, 3:5.[ Flag of East Anglia], traditional. Ancient The flag of Essex is ancient in origin and features three Saxon seax (cutlasses) on a red field. 1605 The flag of Kent has a red field with a white horse in the centre, 3:5. 13th century The Flag of Mercia, gold saltire on a blue field (Cross of St Alban), still flown on Tamworth Castle and a lighter version in St Albans. Ancient Eight alternating stripes of gold and burgundy Ancient Kingdom of Sussex Six gold martlets on a blue field. Officially adopted on 20 May 2011, 3:5. 1974 A gold wyvern on a red field. Registered 20 May 2011. Designed in 1974 by William Crampton.
Historic counties All 39 of the historic counties have flags registered with the Flag Institute, with Leicestershire being the last county to declare its flag, as of 16 July 2021. Some flags are traditional, meaning their designs have long been associated with the county (or in some cases, such as Kent and Sussex, an ancient kingdom), while other flags are based on the County Council arms or are winners of recent design competitions. The dates indicate the flag's date of first appearance, description, or in more recent examples, its registration with the Flag Institute.