The royal standard of the United Kingdom is the banner of arms of the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently . It consists of the shield of the monarch's coat of arms in flag form, and is made up of four quarters containing the arms of the former kingdoms of England, Ireland, and Scotland. There are two versions of the banner, one used in Scotland in which the Scottish quarters take precedence, and one used elsewhere in which the English quarters take precedence. Since the 1960s, personal flags for the monarch in their role as sovereign of other Commonwealth realms have been introduced.
The banner is flown to signify the presence of the monarch. It may be flown when they are present at one of their residences, from the car, ship, or aeroplane they are travelling in, and from any building they are visiting. The banner is never flown at half-mast, as a symbol of the continuity of the monarchy, since there is always a sovereign on the throne.
Although almost universally called a standard, in heraldic terminology the flag is a banner of arms, as it is a coat of arms in flag form; standards are more typically tapering flags on which heraldic badges and mottoes are displayed.
United Kingdom (outside Scotland), the Crown dependencies, and the British Overseas Territories
In England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories, the flag is divided into four quadrants. The first and fourth quadrants represent the ancient Kingdom of England and contain three gold lions (or "leopards"), passant guardant on a red field; the second quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Scotland and contains a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Ireland and contains a version of the gold harp from the coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field. The inclusion of the harp remains an issue for some in Ireland. In 1937 Éamon de Valera, Taoiseach, asked Dominions Secretary Malcolm MacDonald if the harp quarter could be removed from the Royal Standard on the grounds that the Irish people had not given their consent to the Irish emblem being included. The request was denied, and the golden harp of Ireland remains.
The modern Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, apart from minor changes (notably to the form of harp used to represent Ireland), dates to the reign of Queen Victoria. Earlier Royal Standards of the United Kingdom incorporated the Arms of Hanover and of the Kingdom of France, representing the title of Elector (later King) of Hanover and the theoretical claim to the throne of France, a claim dropped in 1800). The Hanoverian association terminated in 1837 with the accession of Queen Victoria who, being female, could not accede to Hanover under Salic law.
Famous Royal Standards of former British Monarchs include the Scotland Impaled Royal Standard of Queen Anne, the Hanover Quartered Royal Standards of King George I to George III, and the Hanover crowned Royal Standards of George III to William IV. The latter contained the Royal coat of arms of Hanover superimposed over what became the modern Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, although this particular standard's artistic representations of the banners of England, Ireland and Scotland in their respective quadrants was marginally different from the versions used today.
Scotland
Since 1998 (the year in which Scottish devolution legislation was enacted) a separate version of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom has been used by the monarch in Scotland, whereby the red Lion Rampant of the Kingdom of Scotland appears in the first and fourth quadrants, displacing the three gold lions passant guardant of England, which occur only in the second quadrant. The third quadrant, displaying the gold harp of Ireland, remains unaltered from that version used throughout the remainder of the United Kingdom and overseas. (Previously the same version of the standard was used throughout the United Kingdom).
The Scottish version of the Royal Standard was used to cover the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during the journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh on 11 September 2022, during the procession on the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles' Cathedral on 12 September, and throughout the lying-at-rest period at St. Giles’, where the Royal Standard was surmounted by the Crown of Scotland, prior to being flown by the Royal Air Force to London on 13 September. During the flight from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt, London, the Scottish version of the Royal Standard was replaced by the Royal Standard used in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Other members of the British royal family also use this Scottish version when in Scotland (except for the Duke of Rothesay who as the heir apparent has his own individual standard and individual banner).
The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland differs from the Royal Standard of Scotland, which portrays the Lion Rampant in its entirety. As the banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, the Royal Standard of Scotland remains a personal banner of the monarch and, despite being commonly used as an unofficial second flag of Scotland, its use is restricted under an act passed in 1672 by the Parliament of Scotland. However, in 1934, George V issued a royal warrant authorising use of the Royal Banner of Scotland during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, due to take place the following year; such use being restricted to hand-held flags for "decorative ebullition" as a mark of loyalty to the Monarch. Google Books
A variation of the Royal Standard of Scotland is used by the heir apparent to the King of Scots, the Duke of Rothesay, whose personal Royal Standard is the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with an azure-coloured label of three points. (The personal banner of the Duke of Rothesay also features the same, displayed upon an inner shield, overlying the arms of Stewart of Appin).
The historic Royal Standard of Scotland is used officially at Scottish royal residences, when the monarch is not in residence, and by representatives of the Crown, including the First Minister, Lord Lieutenants in their lieutenancies, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Heir to the Throne The direct heir to the Throne has several distinct standards and banners for use throughout the United Kingdom in representation of this position. William, Prince of Wales has five standards at use for his various roles and titles.
Standard Title DescriptionPrince of Wales The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, defaced with a three-point label in white.
Superimposed is the arms of Llywelyn the Great four quadrants, the first and fourth with a red lion on a gold field, and the second and third with a gold lion on a red field the inescutcheon is crowned with the Prince's coronet.
Used in England and Northern Ireland, this banner was created in 1917.Prince of WalesThe arms of Llywelyn the Great, on a green inescutcheon the Prince's coronet.
Used in Wales, this banner was created in 1962 at the suggestion of Prince Philip.Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Lord of the Isles The arms of Stewart of Appin, on an inescutcheon those of the Duke of Rothesay.
Used in Scotland, this banner was created in 1974 at the suggestion of Prince Charles.Duke of Rothesay The Royal Standard of Scotland, defaced with a three-point label in blue.
As used in the Kingdom of Scotland, this remains the ancient banner of the Duke of Rothesay, the heir apparent to the King of Scots.Duke of Cornwall The flag is "sable fifteen bezants Or", that is, a black field bearing fifteen gold coins.
Used in Cornwall, the banner of arms of the Duchy of Cornwall are themselves based upon the ancient arms of Richard of Cornwall.
Historic
Standard Title Description Prince of Wales The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, defaced with a three-point label in white. Superimposed is the coat of arms of the Royal House of Saxony. This standard was designated for the Prince of Wales from 1859 to 1917, at which time King George V renamed the royal family from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor and renounced all German titles and claims in an act of British patriotism related to the ongoing First World War.
Other members of the royal family Other members of the royal family have personal standards of their own. These are variants of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (including that which is used in Scotland), defaced with a white label and either three points or pendants (for children of a sovereign), or five points (grandchildren of a sovereign). Traditionally all princes and princesses of royal blood (i.e., descendants of the sovereign) are granted arms on their 18th birthday, thus giving them a banner to fly from their residences.
The following members of the royal family have personal standards, listed according to the line of succession:
Standard Member of the royal family DescriptionPrince Harry, Duke of SussexA three-point label, with each point charged with a red escallop taken from the arms of his mother Diana, Princess of WalesScottish variantAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorA three-point label, the second point charged with a blue anchorScottish variantPrincess BeatriceA five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a beeScottish variantPrincess EugenieA five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a Scottish thistleScottish variantPrince Edward, Duke of EdinburghA three-point label, the second point charged with a Tudor roseScottish variantAnne, Princess RoyalA three-point label, the first and third points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second point charged with red heartScottish variantPrince Richard, Duke of GloucesterA five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with a lion passant guardantScottish variantPrince Edward, Duke of KentA five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a blue anchor, the second and fourth points charged with the Cross of St. GeorgeScottish variantPrince Michael of KentA five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with a blue anchorScottish variantPrincess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady OgilvyA five-point label, the first and fifth points charged with a red heart, the second and fourth points charged with a blue anchor, the third point charged with the Cross of St. GeorgeScottish variant
Consorts of the British monarch Queens consort of the British monarch are granted arms based on the Royal Standard and their own personal arms from before their marriage, or the arms of their family. In Scotland, a queen consort will use the Scottish version of the Royal Standard. They do not have different standards for the Commonwealth realms that have their own Royal Standards.
Consorts of a queen regnant are not granted use of the British Royal Standard. They use standards based on their own family arms. However, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha used a standard of the royal arms (with a label for difference) quartered with his own family arms.
Standard Consort DetailsQueen CamillaConsort of Charles III(2022–present) The Royal Standard impaled with her father's armsRoyal Arms of Scotland impaled with her father's arms (for use in Scotland)Prince PhilipConsort of Elizabeth II(1952–2021) The Standard is based on his Greek and Danish roots. The flag is divided into four quarters: