.svg)
The royal standard of the United Kingdom is the banner of arms of the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently Charles III. It consists of the monarch's coat of arms in flag form, and is made up of four quarters containing the arms of the former kingdoms of England, Ireland, and Scotland. There are two versions of the banner, one used in Scotland in which the Scottish quarters take precedence, and one used elsewhere in which the English quarters take precedence.
The banner is flown to signify the presence of the monarch. It may be flown when they are present at one of their residences, from the car, ship, or aeroplane they are travelling in, and from any building they are visiting. The banner is never flown at half-mast, as a symbol of the continuity of the monarchy, and also as there is always a sovereign on the throne.[2]
Although almost universally called a standard, in heraldic terminology the flag is a banner of arms, as it is a coat of arms in flag form; standards are more typically tapering flags on which heraldic badges and mottoes are displayed.
| List of UK flags |
|---|
.svg) |
- ^ "Rules for hoisting flags on buildings of the Scottish Government" (PDF). gov.scot. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "Royal Standard". The Royal Household. Retrieved 27 December 2013.