Last modified: 2022-10-08 by rob raeside
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image by Martin Grieve, 7 April 2007
Other members of the Royal Family:
See also:
images by M. Schmöger, based on an image by Graham Bartram
Books usually show a square standard; however, a flag with dimensions approximately 1:2 was on display at the ICV in York, July 2001. It is not used in Britain.
In 1961 the Queen adopted a personal flag which is quite separate from the Royal Standard and is a square royal blue flag bearing a crowned initial E within a ring of stemmed roses, all in gold. I think it's supposed to symbolise her role as head of the Commonwealth rather than as Queen of the United Kingdom or of any particular realm. Anyway, I think the rules are thus:
As I understand it, the point of the Queens big 'E' flag is that it is personal
to her, as Elizabeth Windsor, not as Queen of Great Britain, etc. Although Edward
VII tried to make the British Royal Standard more personal by restricting its
use, it is a British Royal Flag, and the same flag will become the Standard of
her successor. The Head of the Commonwealth does not necessarily have to be the
British monarch, and if the Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, visits a
Commonwealth republic, she goes as Elizabeth Windsor, not as Queen Elizabeth II.
David Prothero, 28 March 2003
The big 'E' flag was first used when the Queen visited India in 1961. The same device on a
field of the appropriate national arms forms her personal flag on visits to certain Commonwealth countries."
[Evans (1970)]
Peter Hans van den Muijzenburg, 23 April 2002
In countries where the Queen is the head of state, she commonly has (or had) her own flag. These are shown at:
image by Martin Grieve, 25 April 2007
Based on Carr (1953)
When the Queen was Princess Elizabeth her standard was the Royal
Standard with one labels with three points, St George's cross twice, and a Tudor rose
in the central one. At that
time the Duke of Edinburgh's standard was his own arms (at the hoist) impaled
with those of Princess Elizabeth.
David Prothero, 27 April 2002
The Royal Standard of HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh (i.e., the Queen after
marrying Prince Philip and before she became Queen). This is shown in the
records of the College of Arms, and was used I believe on a visit to Canada. It
is unusual (in Royal Standard terms) in that the Duke of Edinburgh’s arms are at
the hoist, and the Royal Arms, differenced with Princess Elizabeth’s label, are
in the fly.
Graham Bartram, 24 September 2002