This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by the United Kingdom, the individual countries of the United Kingdom, the British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies.
The College of Arms is the authority on the flying of flags in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and maintains the only official register of flags for these countries. It was established in 1484 and as part of the Royal Household operates under the authority of the Crown. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, established prior to 1399, holds a similar role within Scotland. A separate private body called the Flag Institute, an educational charity 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 British law.
Flags recognised by planning law Certain classes of flag enjoy a special status within English planning law and can be flown without needing the planning permission normally required for 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 the British Armed Forces; and the Armed Forces Day flag.
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, flying the flag of the European Union now requires planning permission. However the United Kingdom remains a member of the Council of Europe, which uses the same flag.
Certain other flags may be flown without obtaining planning permission, providing they adhere to certain restrictions including location, size, and number of flags. These include "house flags" for companies or individuals occupying a building, or temporary events taking place in a building; sports club flags (excluding sponsorship logos); the rainbow flag; flags of certain award schemes (Eco-Schools, The King's Awards for Enterprise, Investors in People, Blue Flag Award for beaches, and Green Flag Award for parks and open spaces); and NHS flags.
Current national flags National and subnational flags of the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom FlagDateUseDescriptionStatus 1801–present The Union Flag, also commonly known as the Union Jack. Used as the flag of the United Kingdom A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing the Kingdom of Ireland). National flag used by government and civilian population with the aspect ratios of either 1:2 or 3:5. A 1:2 ratio is the most common.'For the avoidance of doubt and the sake of convenience, Garter King of Arms, under the authority of the Earl Marshal, has approved two versions of the Union flag as being accurate representations suitable for use. These are of the proportions 5:3, commonly flown on land; and 2:1, commonly flown at sea.': College of Arms: Union Flag approved designs Vertical national flag used by government and civilian population.
Countries of the United Kingdom
FlagDateUseDescriptionStatus c. 1348[ Flag Institute – England] Flag of England, also known as the St George's Cross A red cross on a white field.(Argent a cross Gules) National flag of England also used by the Church of England, sports teams representing England and ordinary citizens. 1924–1972unofficial since 1972 Flag of Northern Ireland, also known as the Ulster Banner A red cross on a white field; in the centre, a crowned six-pointed star bearing the Red Hand of Ulster.(Argent a cross gules, overall on a six-pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a Dexter hand couped at the wrist of the second) Northern Ireland has no official nor universally accepted flag. The Ulster Banner portrayed here was the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972. Since 1972 this flag has continued to be used for want of another distinctive flag, almost exclusively amongst the Unionist community. The flag is commonly used for sporting events and teams from Northern Ireland, most notably in the Commonwealth Games, the Northern Ireland national football team and events where Northern Irish competitors represent the province specifically such as snooker, darts and golf. c. 1542(variants first appeared c. 1286)[ Flag Institute – Scotland] Flag of Scotland, also known as the St Andrew's Cross, or the Saltire A diagonal white cross on a blue field.(Azure a saltire Argent) National flag used by Scottish Government and agencies, sports teams representing Scotland and by ordinary citizens. c. 1807(variants first appeared c. 1485) Flag of Wales, also known as the Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch A Welsh Dragon on a horizontal bicolour of white over green.(Per fess Argent and Vert, a dragon passant Gules) National flag used by the Welsh Government and agencies, sports teams representing Wales and by ordinary citizens.
The flags of England and of Scotland are ancient war flags which became by usage the national flags of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and of the Kingdom of Scotland respectively and continued in use until the Act of Union 1707. Thereafter, they were as de facto flags of those parts of the United Kingdom. The flag of Wales was formalised in 1959, but has ancient origins; the dragon was used as a battle-flag by countless Welsh rulers, the current flag being a redesign of the flag carried by Henry Tudor.BBC Wales History: 'The dragon and war' The Flag of Northern Ireland is controversial. The coat of arms of the Government of Northern Ireland, a red cross on a white field, defaced with a Red Hand of Ulster within a six pointed star topped with a crown, became used as a local flag, though the end of the province's Government in 1973 ended its official status. This flag has continued to be the internationally recognisable de facto flag of Northern Ireland through its use by international sporting organisations (for example FIFA, UEFA, and the Commonwealth Games) to represent Northern Ireland, though locally it has the allegiance mainly of the Unionist community. The St Patrick's Saltire is also sometimes used by the UK government in London to represent Northern Ireland when a discrete Northern Ireland flag is required.
Crown Dependencies
FlagDateUseDescription 1993–present Flag of Alderney A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with an inescutcheon of the island's coat of arms. Alderney is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Government ensign of Alderney A Blue Ensign with the arms of Alderney. 1936–1985 Flag of Guernsey A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross). 1985–present Flag of Guernsey A golden cross within a red cross on a white field (St George's Cross). Guernsey is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. 1985–present Civil ensign of Guernsey A Red Ensign with a gold cross. 1985–present State ensign of Guernsey A Blue Ensign with a gold cross. c.1950–1953 Flag of Herm A dark blue field with the arms of Guernsey in the hoist and the words "HERM ISLAND" beneath it. c.1953–present Flag of Herm A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with the coat of arms of the island in the canton. Herm is an island which belongs to the Bailiwick of Guernsey. 1931–present Flag of the Isle of Man A triskelion on a red field. 1971–present Civil ensign of the Isle of Man A Red Ensign with a triskelion. before 1981 Flag of Jersey A red saltire on a white field. 1981–present Flag of Jersey A red saltire on a white field defaced with the island's badge. 2010–present Civil ensign of Jersey A Red Ensign with a crowned coat of arms of Jersey in the hoist. 1907–present Government ensign of Jersey A Blue Ensign with the arms of Jersey. 2010–present Storm flag of Jersey A long white pennant with a red border along the top and bottom, and a crowned coat of arms of Jersey in the hoist. 2019–present Flag of Lihou A green flag with a white stripe in the hoist, with the name "The Lihou Charitable Trust" in white on the green field, and a black and white Eurasian oystercatcher flying eastwards on the white stripe. 1938–2020 Flag of Sark A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with two lions (the arms of the Plantagenet Dukes of Normandy) in the canton overflowing the red cross. Strictly speaking, this was the personal flag of the Seigneur. 2020–present Flag of Sark A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with two lions (the arms of the Plantagenet Dukes of Normandy) in the canton. Strictly speaking, this was the personal flag of the Seigneur. Sark is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Parishes of Guernsey
FlagDateUseDescription Flag of Castel Flag of Forest A white flag defaced in the centre with a dark green shield containing a gold Shield of the Trinity. Flag of Saint Andrew Flag of Saint Martin Flag of Saint Peter Port A white flag with the shield of the parish in the centre, consisting of the coat of arms of Guernsey surrounded by a blue and silver ring bearing the name "ST PIERRE PORT GUERNSEY". Flag of Saint Pierre du Bois A flag coloured two-thirds dark blue and one-third light blue (at the top), with a brown and green tree in the light blue section and a pair of crossed gold and silver keys (the Keys of Heaven) in the dark blue section. Flag of Saint Sampson Flag of Saint Saviour Flag of Torteval A white flag with a red field in the canton containing a gold Norman cross. At the bottom of the flag are three blue waves, with a red ship with four white sails sailing eastwards on the top wave. Below the ship is a gold scroll bearing the name "TORTEVAL", and behind the ship is a green shoreline, above which a grey gull is flying downwards. Above the gull is a grey skyline. Flag of Vale
Parishes of Jersey
FlagDateUseDescription Flag of Grouville A white flag with a shield in the centre containing eight horizontal stripes of white and red. Flag of Saint Brelade A silver fish on a blue field. Flag of Saint Clement A golden anchor on a blue field. Flag of Saint Helier Two crossed gold axes on a blue field. Flag of Saint John A silver Maltese cross on a green field. Flag of Saint Lawrence A black gridiron on a white field. Flag of Saint Martin A red flag with a shield in the centre containing seven horizontal stripes of white and red (four white and three red). Flag of Saint Mary A silver fleur-de-lis on a blue field. Flag of Saint Ouen A gold Latin cross on a blue field. Flag of Saint Peter Two crossed silver keys (the Keys of Heaven) on a red field. Flag of Saint Saviour Three golden Holy Nails surrounded by a golden crown of thorns on a red field. Flag of Trinity A silver and gold Shield of the Trinity with black text on a green field.
British Overseas Territories