![[Ambassador's flag]](../images/g/gb-diplo.gif)
by Graham Bartram
Last modified: 2011-07-02 by rob raeside
Keywords: united kingdom | union jack | blue ensign | consular service | wreath | ambassador |
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In the mid-19th century the distinguishing flag of a British official abroad
was a plain Union Jack. In some cases it was flown on a boat or ship, which
upset the Admiralty because the Union Jack was the distinguishing flag of the
Admiral of the Fleet. To solve the problem a system was instituted in 1869
whereby Governors of Colonies, Military Authorities, Diplomatic Officers and
Consular Agents were assigned a defaced Union Jack for use when they embarked in
a vessel. Their flag on land was still a plain Union Jack.
In colonies the Union Jack was flown on Government House from sunrise to sunset
when the governor was in residence. This lead to a widespread, but incorrect
belief, that the Union Jack was the governor's personal flag, and could not be
flown by anyone else. "In certain territories the Union Flag is seldom if ever
flown by members of the general public. The Union Flag is perceived as the
Governors' flag, as they rarely embark and use the defaced Union Flag." At this
time colonial ensigns were, in general, used only at sea and not on land.
However a problem was foreseen when an Anglo-American defence agreement was
signed in September 1940. Under it the United States obtained leases to
establish naval and air bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica,
Antigua, St Lucia, Trinidad and British Guiana. "Anticipating extensive displays
of the Stars and Stripes in and around the American bases the Colonial Office
sought to encourage wider use of the Union Flag." It was decided that this
should be done by changing Colonial Regulation No.125 concerning the flag flown
by the governor from; "Union Flag with no badge shall be flown at Government
House from sunrise to sunset. The defaced Union Flag shall be flown by the
Governor, Lt-Governor, Officer Administering Colony or Dependency when embarked
in boats or other vessels."
to
"Union Flag with approved arms or badge of the colony, emblazoned in the centre
thereof on a white ground surrounded by a green garland will be flown on
Government House from sunrise to sunset and will be used by a Governor or other
Officer Administering a Government when embarked in a boat or other vessel."
Use of the defaced Union Jack ashore was approved by King George VI on 18 June 1941, and Colonial Regulation No.125 was changed by Amendment No.9 in December 1942. The Army Council agreed to this procedure in those cases where Government House was also a Flag Station and amended King's Regulations.
I do not know when the Foreign Office instituted defaced Union Jacks on land,
but perhaps at roughly the same time ?
Source: National Archives (PRO) ADM 1/11839, CO 323/1731/9, CO 323/1830/20,
CO 323/1830/21, CO 323/1830/22.
David Prothero, 30 January 2006
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Ambassador / Ambassador's residence - Union defaced with royal arms.
Consul-General / Consulate-General - Union defaced with consular crown.
Hon. Consul / Hon. Consulate - No flag or plain Union.
Embassy - Union defaced with royal arms
Cars - Union defaced with royal arms (I assume).
COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES (be they realms or otherwise)
All officers, posts and premises - Plain Union.
Cars - Union defaced with UKHC in certain countries (possibly no longer used),
undefaced Union in others.
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES (or Overseas Dependent Territories)
Governor / Government House - Union defaced with arms/badge of territory.
Government Buildings - Plain Union (or more likely the Blue or Red Ensign of the
Territory). In Hong Kong before 1997, Police and Fire Stations flew an undefaced
Union, as did some local government market places.
Government Vessels - Colonial Blue Ensign.
Peter Johnson, 1, 4 February 2006 and David Prothero, 2 February 2006
by Graham Bartram
The above drawing of the flag of an ambassador or high commissioner shows the larger wreath and the gold band that now surrounds all 'wreathed' badges.
Graham Bartram, 11 December 1999
The British Embassy in Washington flies this flag whether or not the
ambassador is in residence. The British Consulate General in New York City
daily flies the Union Jack defaced with the emblem for Consular officials. So
while the defaced Union Jacks for Ambassadorial rank and for Consular rank may
be described as personal flags, it appears that the actual usage may be a bit
broader than that.
Ned Smith, 25 January 2006
Various correspondents reported identical usage in embassies in Moscow, San Salvador, Bratislava, Budapest, Berlin, and Madrid, and the high commission in Kuala Lumpur, although some use the old coat of arms with helmet and crest.
Old stock shows the hideous Victorian version of the Royal Arms. Newer flags
use the modern State Arms and have a gold ring within the garland. Following the
British tradition of canniness the old stock is being used up. As far as I know
British Embassies always fly the Ambassador's flag rather than a plain Union. It
helps to differentiate the Embassy from other British organizations. The flag is
indeed a personal flag for the Ambassador, but it also doubles as the flag of a
British Embassy. I suppose if the Ambassador was recalled, died, etc. the
Embassy might fly a plain flag until a new Ambassador took up the post, but I
would have to investigate to see if this is the case. The same usage applies to
the Consul's flag at Consulates.
Graham Bartram, 26 January 2006
I think undefaced Union Jacks fly over "high commissions" in commonwealth
countries while defaced Union Jacks, consular flags/ambassador's flags fly over
"embassies" in non-commonwealth countries. The British consulate in Penang flies
an undefaced Union Jack.
Clay Moss, 26 January 2006
Tudor Crown version
![[Consular service on land]](../images/g/gb_con51.gif)
by Clay Moss, 16 February 2005
St. Edwards Crown version (1953-1999)
![[Consular service on land]](../images/g/gb_con98.gif)
by Clay Moss, 17 February 2005
St. Edwards Crown version (after 1999)
![[Consular service on land]](../images/g/gb_con53.gif)
by Clay Moss, 12 February 2005
On the two consular flags that I have personally seen, there was no holding
line for the disk. One flag was fully printed while the other was a printed
Union flag with the Consular badges, (crown on circle) appliquéd onto the flag
on both sides. The thread used in the appliqué was white. The circles on the two
badges actually appeared to be more white than the white parts of the Union
flag.
Clay Moss, 5 February 2006
The St. Edwards crown (pre-1999 version) mimics the crown I saw on the two
pre-1999 Consular flags that I have personally inspected.
Clay Moss, 17 February 2005
Taken from E.M.C. Barraclough, Flags of the World:
Two flags are used by the Consular Service. When ashore, Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls etc. are distinguished by the Union Flag, with in the centre a Royal Crown on a plain white circular background. When on duty afloat, the Blue Ensign is flown, with the full Royal Arms in colour in the fly and without any white background. The Consular Blue Ensign, being a personal distinguishing flag, must be flown at the bow, and not at the stern, which is the accepted position for the national colours. No further flag is necessary, but if, for some special reason it is desired to wear a flag at the stern, then this should be the Red Ensign ... Her Majesty's Ambassadors and Ministers (and in their absence, Chargé-d'Affaires) fly the Union Flag with the Royal Arms on a white circular background, surrounded by a garland, in the centre. This flag is flown over our Embassies and Legations on certain prescribed days in the year, and it is also used when the holders are afloat.
Pascal Vagnat, 27 March 1997
Since 1869 the British consular flag afloat has been the royal arms applied directly (no white disc as used for diplomatic officers on the Union Flag) to the field of a Blue Ensign. One peculiarity; consular officials are permitted to hoist their defaced Blue Ensign, only in boats. It is never hoisted in a ship, unless that ship is firing a salute to a consular official. No, I don't know when a boat gets big enough to be called a ship.
David Prothero, 9 April 1997
The following flags are in current use:
David Prothero, 12 July 1997
![[Consular officers afloat]](../images/g/gb~conaf.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 10 October 2007
Detail of arms
![[Consular officers afloat: arms]](../images/g/gb)conaf.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 10 October 2007
The consular flag afloat has been a Blue Ensign with the royal arms in the
fly since the flag was introduced: "that the Union Jack to be used by your
Majesty's Diplomatic Servants, Ministers Plenipotentiary, Charges d'Affaires,
&c., shall bear the Royal Arms in the centre thereof on a White Shield,--whilst
Consuls and Consular Agents, &c., shall be limited to the use of the Blue Ensign
with the Royal Arms in the fly thereof."
Extract from the Order in Council of 7 August, 1869.
David Prothero, 20 March 2007
The Blue Ensign defaced with The Royal Arms as used by HM Government. The
defacement should not be confused with the full achievement which includes
mantling, helmet and ensigned by the Royal crest. There are a few peculiarities
on the heraldic side here, the most notable being that the 3rd quarter of the
royal shield displays a pale blue background, but the Royal Standard, which we
suspect to be a banner of the Arms has a darker tincture. Could this be
something to do with "standardising" Union flag blue perhaps? The Edwardian
crown also resembles its (much earlier) Victorian cousin in silhouette.
Martin Grieve, 10 October 2007
This flag is neither a jack nor an ensign, but a distinguishing flag, like
that of an admiral. Its use as an ensign is specifically forbidden. Its use as a
jack is not forbidden and if the bow is the only place to fly it (e.g. in a
small motor launch with no central mast) then that is where it would go, with
the appropriate ensign (usually an undefaced blue ensign) at the stern. There
are several other distinguishing flags that look like ensigns, e.g. the joint
service command flags.
The blue is paler because that particular painting of the Royal Arms use a
mid-blue rather than the Union blue in the Royal
Standard. It also uses a plain harp instead of the Maid of Erin harp used on
the Royal Standard.
Graham Bartram, 10 October 2007
An unusual combination of flags is possible on a boat carrying a British
Consular Official. His distinguishing flag is a blue flag with a Union canton
and the Royal Arms in the fly, but it is not an ensign.
"The Consular Blue Ensign being a personal distinguishing flag must be flown at
the bows not at the stern which is the accepted position for the National
Colours. No further flag is necessary, but if for some special reason it is
desired to fly a flag at the stern, this should be the Red Ensign."
[Note beneath an illustration of the flag in the Foreign Office List, 1909]
I think that the Consular Flag is for use only on the Consul's own launch.
One peculiarity; consular officials are permitted to hoist their defaced Blue
Ensign, only in boats. It is never hoisted in a ship, unless that ship is firing
a salute to a consular official.
David Prothero, 5 May 2005
That raises another interesting point - if it is for use in his official
launch, then presumably that launch belongs to the Foreign Office, and if
registered in the UK (as it would need to be to fly a Red Ensign) it would
therefore be classed as a vessel in government service, and therefore should
wear some form of Blue Ensign! Given the lack of an FCO Defaced Ensign this
would probably have to be either a plain ensign or a
Government Service Ensign (horizontal gold anchor). Hmm - something for me
to look into methinks...
Graham Bartram, 6 May 2005
I am open to correction here, but I don't think that a launch that is used
only in National or Territorial Waters, even if foreign, would need to be
registered in the UK before it could fly the Red Ensign. Registration would be
necessary only if it were going into International Waters. Correspondence in the
Daily Telegraph a few years ago included the following:-
"It was not only ships authorised by the Ministry of Defence that flew the Blue
Ensign. A small group of vessels under the Foreign Office was similarly
entitled. I was Her Majesty's Consul in Venice until 1979, and my launch, moored
on the Grand Canal, flew the Blue Ensign whenever I went about the city in it."
I cannot remember where I found that consular officials are permitted to hoist
their defaced Blue Ensign only in boats, and the original posting was from a
1909 Foreign Office List, so it would be interesting to know the current
regulations.
David Prothero, 6 May 2005
As far as I know Honorary Consuls are not professional diplomats, but local
residents of any nationality who act as a contact for nationals of the country
they represent. I think it very unlikely that they are entitled to a special
distinguishing flag. A British High Commissioner in a Commonwealth country
is equivalent to a British Ambassador in a non-Commonwealth country, but his
flag is, (or was in the first half of the 20th century), a plain Union Jack. A
possible reason for the difference is that a British Ambassador represents the
Queen but a British HC represents the British Government. This makes sense in
those countries where the Queen is Head of State and represented by a
Governor-General, but apparently the same situation is considered to exist even
in those Commonwealth countries of which she is not Head of State.
One exception was (is?) the car flag of a British HC. In 1935 a problem arose in
Australia where State Governors (apart from Victoria) also used a plain Union
Jack as a car flag. To avoid any confusion, a United Kingdom High Commissioner's
car flag was approved by King George V. The black letters UK above HC on a 2
inch diameter white circle, on a nine by four and a half inch Union Jack.
However it is rarely safe to assume that British flags will be used in any
consistent way. In 1955 the UKHC car flag was used by the HC in Australia, New
Zealand, Rhodesia-Nyasaland, and by the Deputy HC in India. A plain Union Jack
was used by the HC in South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon. The HC in Canada did
not use a car flag.
If the Admiralty had been reasonable in 1869 they could have devised a special
flag for the Admiral of the Fleet and then all other defaced Union Jacks would
have been unnecessary. Their decision not to do so, may have been influenced by
an earlier decision concerning the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland who used to cross
the Irish Sea flying the Union Jack. He was given a one-off defaced Union Jack
in 1821.
David Prothero, 31 January 2006
