List of British flags
This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by the United Kingdom, 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 holds a similar role within Scotland. 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 UK 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 European Union, 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 Her Majesty’s Forces; and the Armed Forces Day flag.Current national flags
National and subnational flags of the United Kingdom.United Kingdom
Countries of the United Kingdom
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Status |
| c. 1348 | Flag of England, also known as the St George's Cross | Argent a cross Gules | National flag of England also used by the Church of England, sports teams representing England and ordinary citizens. | |
| 1953–1972; unofficial since 1972 | Northern Ireland has no official nor universally accepted flag | The national flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Jack. The Ulster Banner portrayed is from the former coat of arms of Northern Ireland and was the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953–1972. Since 1972 this flag has continued to be used for want of another distinctive flag, almost exclusively amongst the Unionist community. | - | |
| c. 1286 | Flag of Scotland, also known as the St Andrew's Cross, or the Saltire | Azure a saltire Argent | National flag used by Scottish Government and agencies, sports teams representing Scotland and by ordinary citizens. | |
| 1959 on | Flag of Wales, also known as the Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch | 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 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. 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 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.
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (Crown dependencies)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1993 on | Flag of Alderney | A red cross on a white field 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 | ||
| 1985 on | Flag of Guernsey | A golden cross within a red cross on a white field. Guernsey is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. | |
| 1985 on | Civil Ensign of Guernsey | A red ensign with a Gold Cross. | |
| 1985 on | State Ensign of Guernsey | A blue ensign with a Gold Cross. | |
| Flag of Herm | A red cross on a white field with the coat of arms of the island in the canton. Herm is an island which belongs to the Bailiwick of Guernsey. | ||
| 1931 on | Flag of the Isle of Man | A triskelion on a red field | |
| 1971 on | Civil Ensign of the Isle of Man | A red ensign with a triskelion | |
| 1981 on | Flag of Jersey | A red saltire on a white field defaced with the island's badge | |
| 2010 on | Civil Ensign of Jersey | A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Jersey on | |
| Government Ensign of Jersey | A blue ensign with the arms of Jersey | ||
| 1938 on | Flag of Sark | A red cross on a white field with two lions 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. | |
| Flag of Brecqhou | Flag of Sark, defaced with the Brecqhou coat of arms. |
British Overseas territories
In 1999, the maritime flags of the British Overseas Territories were updated at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The white discs were removed from the field of the flags and each respective coat of arms was increased in size for ease of identification. As the MoD only had authority over sea flags, the Governments of the Overseas Territories were free to continue using the flags with white discs on land. The Overseas Territories' governments did switch to the updated flags over a staggered period of time, however some old-style flags with white discs may still be seen. Such flags have generally been adopted by Order in Council. Civil flags are under the control of the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Transport and are split into two categories: Category 1 is to register ships of unlimited tonnage and type. category 2 is to register commercial ships and yachts of up to 150 gross registered tons.| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1990 on | Anguilla | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Anguilla | |
| Flag used in Akrotiri and Dhekelia | The Union Jack is used as no territory flag exists | ||
| 2013 on | Ascension Island, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Ascension Island | |
| 1999 on | Bermuda | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Bermuda. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |
| 1999 on | Bermuda | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Bermuda. Used as the Government ensign. | |
| 1963 on | British Antarctic Territory | A white ensign less the cross of St George defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Antarctic Territory | |
| 1963 on | British Antarctic Territory | A blue ensign less the cross of St George defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Antarctic Territory | |
| 1990 on | British Indian Ocean Territory | A blue ensign with white wavy lines, defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory. | |
| 1960 on | British Virgin Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Virgin Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | |
| 1960 on | British Virgin Islands | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Virgin Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |
| 1999 on | Cayman Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Cayman Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | |
| 1999 on | Cayman Islands | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Cayman Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |
| 1999 on | Falkland Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Falkland Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | |
| 1999 on | Falkland Islands | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Falkland Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |
| 1982 on | Gibraltar | Two horizontal bands of white and red with a three-towered red castle in the centre of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centred in the red band. This is the flag commonly used on land. | |
| 1999 on | Gibraltar | A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. This is the ensign for vessels owned by the Government, or in Government service. | |
| 1996 on | Gibraltar | A red ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. Used as the civil ensign for locally registered vessel. | |
| 1958 on | Montserrat | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Montserrat | |
| 1984 on | Pitcairn Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands | |
| 1984 on | Saint Helena, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Saint Helena | |
| 1985 on | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
| 2002 on | Tristan da Cunha, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Tristan da Cunha | |
| 1968 on | Turks and Caicos Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| 1968 on | Turks and Caicos Islands | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Turks and Caicos Islands |
Governors' flags
Prior to 1999, all Governors' flags had smaller discs and the outer green garland without the gold ring. Therefore, the dates given do not reflect this minor, consistent change.| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1990 on | Personal flag of the Governor of Anguilla | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Anguilla | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of Bermuda | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Bermuda | |
| 1962 on | Personal flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory | |
| 1990 on | Flag of the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory | A design based on the Blue Ensign with a Union Jack in the union and wavy white lines going horizontally along the field, defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory. This flag is also used as the de facto flag of the Territory. | |
| 1971 on | Personal flag of the Governor of the British Virgin Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands | |
| 1971 on | Personal flag of the Governor of the Cayman Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands | |
| 1948 on | Personal flag of the Governor of the Falkland Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of Gibraltar | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Gibraltar | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of Montserrat | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Montserrat | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A Union Flag defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Helena | |
| 1999 on | Personal flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
| 2002 on | Personal flag of the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha. The Administrator is subservient to the Governor of Saint Helena | |
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands | A Union jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands |
Ensigns
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1801 on | Blue Ensign, used by some organisations or territories associated with the UK and also used by Royal Navy Reserve Captain of Merchant Navy Ship – e.g., | A blue field, with a Union Jack in the canton | |
| 1864 on | Government Service Ensign | A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor | |
| 1801 on | Red Ensign, used by the Merchant Navy | A red field, with a Union Jack in the canton | |
| Civil Jack | A Union Jack with a white border | ||
| 1931 on | Civil Air Ensign, used by civilian aircraft and at civil airports | A blue and white cross on a light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton | |
| Unofficial Cornish ensign | The Cornish flag defaced with a Union flag in the canton. | ||
| 2000 | Another unofficial Cornish ensign flown by the ship 'Sweet Promise' during the 'Brest 2000' festival. | The Cornish flag defaced with the Standard of the Duke of Cornwall in the canton. | |
| 2003 | Unofficial Devon Ensign | The Devon flag defaced with a Union flag in the canton. |
Naval Service
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1801 on | White Ensign, Royal Navy, usually ships bearing the prefix HMS, and the Royal Yacht Squadron | A red cross on a white field with the Union Jack in the canton | |
| 1968 on | Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary | A blue ensign defaced with a vertical yellow anchor | |
| 1974–2008 | Ensign of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service | A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor with two wavy yellow lines beneath | |
| 1963 on | Ensign of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service | A blue ensign defaced with the shield of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service | |
| Combined Cadet Force Naval Section Ensign | RNR Blue Ensign with CCF Naval Section badge | ||
| Sea Cadet Corps Ensign | RNR Blue Ensign with SCC badge | ||
| Flag of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom | A fouled anchor on a crimson background | ||
| Flag of the Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines | A dark blue field with unequal horizontal yellow, green and red stripes, and the crest of the Royal Marines. | ||
| :File:Flag of the Commandant General Royal Marines.png|Link to File | Flag of the Commandant General Royal Marines | A dark blue field with a fouled anchor, lion and crown. |
Army
Air Force
Combined Forces
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1956 on | Flag of the Joint Services | A dark blue, red and light blue tricolour defaced with the Joint Service badge. A simplified version with the badge in black is also in use. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | |
| Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence | A dark blue, red and light blue horizontal tricolour defaced with a crown and lion. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | ||
| 1965 on | Flag of the Chief of the Defence Staff | A dark blue, red and light blue horizontal tricolour with a Union canton and defaced with the badge of the Chief of the Defence Staff. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | |
| 1971 on | Ensign of the Ministry of Defence Police | A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the Ministry of Defence Police. |
Yacht Club Ensigns
Royal Standards
Queen Elizabeth II
Standards and Banners of the Prince of Wales
Other members of the Royal Family
Others
Government
Church
Diplomatic flags
Islands
Local government areas
Flags are often used to represent counties, cities and towns. Where these are based on a council's banner of arms they are technically for the use of the council, but they are often used to represent the wider area, including by official bodies such as the Department for Communities and Local Government. Northumberland and Hertfordshire County Councils have "released" their banners of arms for use as county flags. Since 2012 it has been permitted in planning law in England to fly a flag of any British island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village without planning permission as an advertisement.Counties
Cities, towns and villages
Miscellaneous
Historical and informal areas
It is explicitly permitted to fly 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 without needing any permission or consent.Historic kingdoms and regions
Historic counties
Yorkshire ridings
Historical flags
National flags and ensigns
Lord Protector's standard
Royal standards
Members of the Royal Family
Welsh Royal Standards
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1401–1416 | Banner adopted by Owain Glyndŵr and thought to be derived from the counter-charged arms of the princely Houses of Mathrafal and Dinefwr. It is in use by the National Eisteddfod for Wales, Cymdeithas yr iaith and widely amongst independentist groups | Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions rampant counter-charged | |
| c. 1195 – 1378 | Banner of the princely House of Aberffraw and the Kingdom of Gwynedd famously used by Llywelyn the Great, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Owain Lawgoch. The Prince of Wales uses a version of this flag today emblazoned with a Crown on a green shield | Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions passant guardant counter-charged langued and armed Azur | |
| c. 1100 – c. 1400 | Banner of the princely House of Mathrafal used during the early Middle Ages by the rulers of Powys, Powys Wenwynwyn and later by their heirs the de la Pole dynasty. Modern use is rare | Or a Lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure | |
| c. 1100 – c. 1300 | Banner of the princely House of Dinefwr and the Kingdom of Deheubarth, a realm which covered much of south Wales. The banner would have been used during the early Middle Ages and later by the Talbot dynasty who inherited the arms. Modern use is rare | Gules a Lion rampant Or, a border engrailed of the last | |
| c. 1240 – 1282 | Banner of the personal arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd | Argent three Lions passant Gules | |
| c. 1160 – c. 1350 | Banner of Madog ap Gruffudd Maelor, and later the Banner of Powys Fadog | Argent a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules |