Personal Flags

In 1960, The Queen adopted a personal flag to be flown on any building, ship, car or aircraft in which she was staying or travelling.

The Royal Standard represents not only the Sovereign but also the United Kingdom, whereas The Queen's own flag is personal to her alone and can be flown by no one other than The Queen.

The Queen's personal flag consists of the initial 'E' ensigned with the Royal crown, surrounded by a chaplet of roses.

The design is in gold (or yellow) on a blue field and the flag is fringed with gold (or yellow).

Since its introduction, the flag's use has been altered. Although it is not a 'Head of Commonwealth' flag, it has in effect become The Queen's personal Commonwealth flag. It is flown to mark her presence in non-monarchical Commonwealth countries and in realms that have not adopted a personal flag specifically for The Queen.

Some realms have adopted their own versions of the flag to be flown as a personal flag when The Queen is in their country, each one incorporating the country's arms with The Queen's personal design. The Queen's personal flag is also flown on a number of Commonwealth occasions in the United Kingdom.

In addition to his standard as Prince of Wales, the Prince has a personal flag exclusively for use in Wales. The flag is based on the Arms of the Principality of Wales, also known as the Arms of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last native Prince of Wales.

The flag was flown for the first time on June 11, 1969 - three weeks before The Prince's Investiture - at Castle Green, Cardiff, for the inauguration of the Royal Regiment of Wales, of which The Prince is Colonel-in-Chief.

During the Investiture ceremony on 1 July 1969, the Standard for Wales was flown from Caernarfon Castle's Eagle Tower.

The Prince of Wales also has a personal banner for his use in Scotland, based on his Scottish titles - Duke of Rothesay, Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland.

It consists of four quarterings. The first and third feature a blue and white chequered band across a gold background, representing the Great Steward of Scotland, whilst the second and fourth quarterings show a black galley on a white background, representing the Lord of the Isles. A small shield in the centre shows the lions rampant, representing the dukedom of Rothesay.

Other children of the Sovereign have flags which feature the Scottish version of the Royal Standard, bearing heraldic 'labels' or differences to distinguish each Royal individual.

Related content

Press release 21 January 2023

Coronation Weekend plans announced

Read more

The King's message following the plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal

Our special thoughts and prayers are with you and the people of Nepal at this time of immeasurable sorrow.

19 January 2023

A speech by The Queen Consort at the University of Aberdeen

Ladies and Gentlemen, you have a great past: 5 Nobel Laureates and 525 years of academic excellence. Your future, I know, will be greater still and, as your very proud...

18 January 2023
Press release 13 January 2023

The King's Gold Medal for Poetry 2022

Read more

The Queen Consort's message to mark 80 years of BFBS

You have done a huge amount to foster a true and profound sense of community amongst all those connected with the military family.

03 January 2023

A message of condolence from The King following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

I remember with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my visit to the Vatican in 2009.

31 December 2022

The King's Christmas Broadcast 2022

Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each...

25 December 2022

A speech by His Majesty The King at the Conferral of City Status, Wrexham

As you celebrate your new-found status for this very special part of the world, nothing could give me greater pleasure than to say llongyfarchiadau and to wish you every...

09 December 2022

A speech by His Majesty The King at the Conferral of City Status, Wrexham

Boneddigion a boneddigesau, Mr Mayor, Leader of the Council, Chief Executive, Ladies and Gentlemen, My wife and I are absolutely delighted to be with you in Wrexham today to...

09 December 2022
News

The King visits Bedfordshire

06 December 2022

A speech by The Queen Consort at a ‘Violence Against Women and Girls’ Reception at Buckingham Palace

We are uniting today to confront, rightly, what has rightly been called a global pandemic of violence against women. Faced with such challenges, it can be hard to know what...

29 November 2022

A message of condolence from The King to the President of Indonesia following the earthquake in Cianjur

I particularly wanted to send my most heartfelt thoughts and condolences to all those who have been affected.

23 November 2022

A message from The King to the Governor of New South Wales regarding the ongoing flooding

I would be most grateful if you would pass on my thanks and admiration to those who have once again come to the rescue and to those already providing invaluable assistance in...

23 November 2022

A speech by The King at the State Banquet of the State Visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa

South Africa, like the Commonwealth, has always been a part of my life... It is therefore particularly moving and special that you are our guest on this, the first State Visit...

22 November 2022