This is the first in a series of articles about royal symbols. Article two about the coats of arms of each of the Queen's realms can be accessed here.
Among the most recognizable symbols of the monarchy are the royal standard’s that are used by Queen Elizabeth II nearly everywhere she goes. These flags are symbolic of the power of the monarchy and of the pomp and pageantry it entails.
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| The UK Royal Standard flying from Buckingham Palace, indicating that the Queen is in residence. |
Among the most recognizable symbols of the monarchy are the royal standard’s that are used by Queen Elizabeth II nearly everywhere she goes. These flags are symbolic of the power of the monarchy and of the pomp and pageantry it entails.
The Queen has six royal standards that are for the use of
her and her successors in the role of Sovereign of the following countries: the
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and Barbados. In
addition, she also uses a version of the UK royal standard when in Scotland. These royal standards are flown when the Queen is in residence at one of the royal palaces, as well as from any non-ecclesiastical building that the Queen is visiting*, so long as it is requested by the owner. The royal standards are also flown from the Queen's car in official capacities and from aircraft carrying the Queen while on the ground.
When the Queen is not present at a royal palace, another flag is usually flown. At Buckingham Palace for example, the Union Flag is flown in place of the UK Royal Standard when the Queen is not there. But before 1997, no flag flew above any royal palace when the monarch was not in residence. When Diana, Princess of Wales died in August that year, the Queen and much of the royal family were on vacation in Scotland at Balmoral, which meant that no flag
flew from the Palace at half-mast, and this caused controversy because it was believed in some quarters that the Queen was not paying proper tribute to her former daughter-in-law. In fact, the royal standards are not flown at half-mast because the Sovereign does not die. A new monarch immediately succeeds to the throne upon the death of his or her predecessor (which gives meaning to the phrase, "the King is dead, long live the King"). During that week in 1997, new protocol was drawn up allowing for the raising of the Union Flag above Buckingham Palace in the absence of the Queen, and the Union Flag could be flown at half-mast in honor of Diana. Subsequently, this practice was repeated for events such as the 9/11 attacks, the 7/7 bombings in London, and the death of Margaret Thatcher.
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| The Union Jack and other flags fly over royal palaces when the monarch is not in residence. |
Royal Standards used in the United Kingdom
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| Royal Standard of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is used throughout
the UK (except in Scotland) and around the world in non-Commonwealth countries.
Within this banner is nearly 1000 years of history and tradition. Divided into
four quadrants, the standard is actually three ancient standards in one, which
represent the unity of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland. The first and fourth quadrants represent the ancient Kingdom of
England, containing three gold lions passant guardant on a red field; the second quadrant represents the
ancient Kingdom of Scotland, with a red lion
rampant against a gold field; the third quadrant represents the ancient
Kingdom of Ireland, containing a winged gold harp on a blue field.
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| The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom in Scotland. |
In Scotland, a distinct version of the UK Royal Standard is
used. This standard features the Scottish red lion rampant against the gold field in the first and fourth
quarters, which displaces the three English lions passant guardant and places them into the second quarter of the
standard. The Irish harp remains unchanged in the third quarter.
Both the UK Royal Standard and the Scottish version have
been in use in their present form since the accession of Queen Victoria in
1837. Under German Salic law, as a woman, she was not allowed to succeed her
uncle William IV in the Kingdom of Hanover, which resulted in the removal of the
Hanoverian representations in the royal standards of the United Kingdom.
Since then, the two standards have been passed down to each reigning British monarch without major alterations, and as Britain’s overseas colonies became independent realms, it became necessary to allow them to have them royal standards of their own for the use of the monarch.
Since then, the two standards have been passed down to each reigning British monarch without major alterations, and as Britain’s overseas colonies became independent realms, it became necessary to allow them to have them royal standards of their own for the use of the monarch.
Royal Standard of Canada
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| The Royal Standard of Canada |
In 1961, Elizabeth II approved of a royal standard for her
personal use as Queen of Canada, and the new standard was revealed in 1962. It
contains the shield from the Arms of Canada, which had been adopted by her
grandfather George V in 1921, and has a layout similar to that of the UK Royal
Standard, but with elements unique to Canada. The first quarter contains the
three gold lion’s passant guardant representing England (and Wales) against a
red field; the second quarter represents Scotland with the red lion rampant on
a gold field; the third quarter contains the gold harp of Ireland against a
blue field; the fourth quarter represents Canada’s French heritage with three gold
fleurs-de-lis on a blue field. Across the bottom are three red maple leaves representing
the modern Canadian nation. In the center of the standard is a blue roundel
within a wreath of gold leaves and roses which contains an E for Elizabeth II which is surmounted by the Crown of St. Edward. This is a device that is featured in all of the royal
standards (except for the ones used in the UK), and which is used by the Queen
in her personal flag as Head of the Commonwealth.
When the Queen is in Canada, the standard is flown from any building in which she is in residence, during state functions, and from vehicles in which she travels. It is also used during functions in which the Queen is representing Canada, such as at Juno Beach in France when the Queen was present for the commeration of the 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy. This protocol is rarely broken, save for exceptional circumstances. On February 6th of last year, with the Queen's permission, the standard was raised over Rideau Hall, her residence in Ottawa, as well as on Parliament Hill and over the provincial legislatures of Canada, marking the 60th anniversary of her succession to the Canadian throne.
Royal Standard of Australia
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| The Royal Standard of Australia |
The Queen’s royal standard for Australia was adopted in
1962, and is used by her as the Queen of Australia – either while she is in the
country or representing it abroad. It takes its design from the shield within the
Australian Coat of Arms, which itself was approved by King George V in 1912.
The standard consists of six sections representing heraldic badges of the six
Australian states.
The upper left badge represents New South Wales, which bears
the Cross of St. George on a white field with a gold lion in the center of the
cross and a gold star in each of its arms. In the upper middle section is the
badge of Victoria, which contains the five stars of the Southern Cross
surmounted by an Imperial Crown against a blue field. The upper right badge
represents Queensland, consisting of a blue Maltese cross on a white field with
an Imperial Crown inside of it.
In the lower left section is the badge
representing South Australia, which contains a Piping Shrike – an emblematic
bird probably based on the Australian Magpie – on a gold field. The lower
middle section bears the badge of Western Australia, which includes a black
swan against a gold field. In the lower right section is the badge representing
Tasmania, which bears a red lion on a white field.
At the center of the standard is a seven-pointed gold star
representing the states and territories of Australia, and
within the star is a blue disk which contains the Queen’s personal emblem from
her flag as Head of the Commonwealth. Surrounding the standard is an ermine border representing the Australian federation.
Royal Standard of New Zealand
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| The Royal Standard of New Zealand |
The Royal Standard for New Zealand was approved by Elizabeth II
in 1962, and was first used by her has Queen of New Zealand in the following year during her tour of the
country. It is also available for the Queen’s use whenever she is representing
New Zealand abroad. It takes its design from the shield with the New Zealander
Coat of Arms, which was adopted by King George V in 1911. The standard is
divided into four quarters and a central stripe.
In the first quadrant are four red stars against a blue
field that are representative of the Southern Cross; the second quadrant
contains a golden fleece (which is actually a muskox – one of several animals
from which wool, and therefore fleece, can be made) on a red field; the third quadrant
bears a golden wheat sheaf upon a red field; the fourth quadrant consists of
two crossed gold hammers against a blue field, and the central stripe contains two
ships.
On
the shield within the New Zealand Coat of Arms, the central stripe consists of
three ships, but the Royal Standard differs by having the Queen’s personal
emblem superimposed over the middle ship.
Royal Standard of Jamaica
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| The Royal Standard of Jamaica |
The Royal Standard of Jamaica was adopted by Elizabeth II in 1962, and it is used by her as Queen of Jamaica – either while she is in residence in the country or representing it abroad. Its design is derived from the shield within the Jamaican Coat of Arms, which were originally granted under Royal Warrant in either 1661 or 1662 by King Charles II, and likely designed by William Sancroft, who is more notable for being the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.
The
Jamaican standard consists of a Cross of St. George against a white field, and
a gold pineapple is placed on each of its arms. In the center of the cross is
the personal emblem of Elizabeth II.
Royal Standard of Barbados
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| The Royal Standard of Barbados |
Upon its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966,
Barbados decided to retain the monarchy, and as Queen of Barbados, Elizabeth II
approved a new royal standard for the country. The standard is used by the
Queen – either while she is in residence in the country or representing it
abroad. Its design is derived from the shield within the Barbadian Coat of Arms,
which were also issued by the Queen in 1966.
The Barbadian standard is a banner consisting of a gold
field, upon which is a bearded fig tree – a symbol of Barbados – in the center,
and the national flower, the red Pride of Barbados, in the top corners on
either side. At the center of the tree is Queen’s personal emblem.
As the nations of the Commonwealth gained independence, this flag came to represent the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth in Commonwealth realms in which a royal standard does not exist (such as the Bahamas and Tuvalu) and in Commonwealth countries where she is not head of state. The flag was first used during a 1961 visit to India, which had become a republic eleven years previously.
It is also used in place of the royal standards when the Queen is performing duties as Head of the Commonwealth wherever she is present. For example, when the Queen visits the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House in London, her personal flag, not the UK Royal Standard, is raised above the building.
Personal Flag of Elizabeth II
The Queen’s emblem that is featured on all of the royal
standards (except the ones used in the United Kingdom) was born out her desire
to create a flag that would represent her as an individual, and not as the
monarch of any particular country. This resulted in a flag with a blue field
upon which is a wreath of gold leaves and roses which contains a golden E which is surmounted by the Crown of
St. Edward. The E stands for
Elizabeth II, the crown symbolizes her position and dignity, and the roses represent
the nations of the Commonwealth.
As the nations of the Commonwealth gained independence, this flag came to represent the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth in Commonwealth realms in which a royal standard does not exist (such as the Bahamas and Tuvalu) and in Commonwealth countries where she is not head of state. The flag was first used during a 1961 visit to India, which had become a republic eleven years previously.
It is also used in place of the royal standards when the Queen is performing duties as Head of the Commonwealth wherever she is present. For example, when the Queen visits the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House in London, her personal flag, not the UK Royal Standard, is raised above the building.
Wales and the Royal Standard
The common purpose of the royal standards is that they are
symbolic embodiments of the countries they represent. From the golden fleece in
Australia’s standard (representing the country’s wool industry) to the maple
leaf of Canada, the standards are supposed to represent unity within the realms
in which the Queen is head of state. However, for some people, this does not
hold true with regard to the royal standards used in the United Kingdom.
The main Royal Standard used in the UK as well as the
Scottish variant does not include a representation for Wales. The reason why is
because Wales was considered a principality within the Kingdom of England at
the time of the unions with the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of Ireland.
Hence, on the main Royal Standard, the arms of England appear in the first and
fourth quarters, and Wales is considered to be represented within them. In the
Royal Standard of the UK used in Scotland, the Scottish arms appear in the
first and fourth quarters – again, with no visible Welsh representation.
It is worth bearing note that this symbolic anomaly is not
high on the minds of the Welsh people, nor is it a red letter issue on the
political agenda in Wales and the United Kingdom, but it is something which is
used from time to time by Welsh nationalists as a reason for Wales to secede from
the UK. While such people are not much more than a vocal minority, the fact remains that modern-day Wales is no longer a part
of England, and it ought to be visibly represented in the royal standards and other
national symbols of the United Kingdom – such as the Union Jack – just as are
Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England.
Such
a change would, in this author’s opinion, do much to strengthen and preserve
the integrity of the United Kingdom by giving Wales a more equal standing
alongside its neighbors, which also helps to preserve the integrity of the monarchy, because its strength is derived from the unity - both real and symbolic - of the British nation.
Indeed, the monarchy thrives off of unity. The ceremonial pageantry for which it well-known is something that helps to bind not only the peoples of Britain, but also of the Commonwealth, together. The royal standards used by the Queen are symbolic of the power of the monarchy and the extent to which it fuses a common sense of identity and nationhood, as well as the links - both modern and historical - between the countries it represents.
Indeed, the monarchy thrives off of unity. The ceremonial pageantry for which it well-known is something that helps to bind not only the peoples of Britain, but also of the Commonwealth, together. The royal standards used by the Queen are symbolic of the power of the monarchy and the extent to which it fuses a common sense of identity and nationhood, as well as the links - both modern and historical - between the countries it represents.
*Westminster Abbey and other churches that are "Royal Peculiar's" (under the direct authority of the monarch, and not a bishop or archbishop of the Church of England) have the Royal Standard raised above them when the monarch is in residence.
Photo Credit: Conay via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Editor at Large (Ayelie) via Wikimedia Commons cc, Denelson83 via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Beao via Wikimedia Commons cc
Sources:
Photo Credit: Conay via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Editor at Large (Ayelie) via Wikimedia Commons cc, Denelson83 via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Barryob via Wikimedia Commons cc, Beao via Wikimedia Commons cc
Sources:
- Article: Barbadian Coat of Arms
- Australian Government - Coat of Arms
- Governor-General of Canada - Royal Standard
- National Library of Jamaica - National Symbols
- National Arms of New Zealand
- New Zealand Government - Royal Standard
- Royal Standard of Australia - Wikipedia
- Royal Standard of Barbados - Wikipedia
- Royal Standard of Canada - Wikipedia
- Royal Standard of Jamaica - Wikipedia
- Royal Standard of New Zealand - Wikipedia
- Royal Standards of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
- UK Monarchy (Official Website) - Royal Standard
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