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List of Scottish flags facts for kids

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This is a list of flags that are used exclusively in Scotland. Other flags used in Scotland, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom can be found at list of British flags.

National flag

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Scotland.svg Since 1385 (832 According to Legend) Flag of Scotland, also known as the Saint Andrew's Cross or The Saltire A white saltire on a sky blue field
Flag of Scotland (vertical).svg A vertical white saltire on a sky blue field.

A white saltire on a Pantone 300 medium blue per Scottish National Flag Code.

Royal flags

Flag Date Use Description
Royal Standard of the United Kingdom in Scotland.svg Since 1837 Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom used exclusively in Scotland by the sovereign. An alternative form is used elsewhere.
Lionrampant.svg Since 1222 Royal Banner of Scotland A banner of the ancient Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, now officially used in Scotland by representatives of the sovereign, including the First Minister of Scotland (as keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland), the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and Lord Lieutenants within their lieutenancies. This flag is also used at the royal residences of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the sovereign is not present.
Royal Standard of the Duke of Rothesay.svg Standard of the Duke of Rothesay The Royal Banner of Scotland defaced with a label of three points.
Personal Banner of the Duke of Rothesay.svg Since 1974 Personal banner of the 23rd Duke of Rothesay The personal banner of the current Duke, Prince William. The arms are based upon those of the Chief of Clan Stewart of Appin, and represent in the 1st and 4th quarters the title of Great Steward of Scotland whilst the 2nd and 3rd quarters represent the title of Lord of the Isles. In the centre, to difference the arms from those of Appin, is placed an escutcheon bearing the arms of the heir apparent to the King of Scots.
Royal Standard of Queen Camilla (in Scotland).svg Since 2022 Standard of the Queen used in Scotland The Standard of Queen Camilla, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, impaled with the arms of her father, Bruce Shand.
Royal Standard of Prince Harry, Earl of Dumbarton.svg Since 2018 Standard of the Earl of Dumbarton The Standard of Prince Harry, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, defaced with a label of five points, the first, centre and fifth points bearing a red scallop.
Royal Standard of Prince Andrew, Earl of Inverness.svg Since 1986 Standard of the Earl of Inverness The Standard of Prince Andrew, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a blue anchor.
Royal Standard of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (in Scotland).svg Since 1999 Standard of the Duke of Edinburgh The Standard of Prince Edward, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a Tudor Rose.
Royal Standard of Princess Anne, Princess Royal (in Scotland).svg Since 1987 Standard of the Princess Royal used in Scotland The Standard of Princess Anne, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the first and third points bearing a St George's Cross, the centre point bearing a red heart.

Government flags

Flag Date Use Description
Ensign of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.svg The ensign used aboard ships of the Scottish Government, such as the patrol boats of Marine Scotland A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the former Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

Counties, regions, and cities

Counties

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Aberdeenshire.svg Since 2023 Flag of Aberdeenshire Divided gold and purple, with a white castle bearing an ancient crown, also divided purple and gold.
Flag of Banffshire.svg Since 2023 Flag of Banffshire A white bridge over blue water on a gold background with a sun the canton.
Flag of Berwickshire.svg Since 2023 Flag of Berwickshire A horozontal blue and green bicolour divided in the middle by a white chain, with a leaping silver salmon in the blue section, and a curved gold ear of barley in the green section.
Caithness Flag.svg Since 2016 Flag of Caithness Black, with a blue Scandinavian Cross fimbriated in gold, and a galley in the upper hoist.
Flag of East Lothian.svg Since 2018 Flag of East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) A blue field with a gold saltire voided blue; over all a lozenge with a lion rampant.
Flag of Kirkcudbrightshire.svg Since 2016 Flag of Kirkcudbrightshire A green and white quartered field bearing the Cross of St Cuthbert (from whom the county is named).
Flag of Morayshire.svg Since 2023 Flag of Morayshire A wavy blue and gold background with a golden garb on a green hoist
2007 Flag of Orkney.svg Since 2007 Flag of Orkney Red, with a blue Nordic Cross outlined in yellow that extends to the edges of the flag. The colours from the Royal Standards of Scotland and of Norway and the Flag of Scotland.
Flag of Shetland.svg Since 2005 Created 1969 Flag of Shetland Blue, with a white Nordic Cross. The colours of the Scottish flag.
Flag of Sutherland 2018.svg Since 2018 Flag of Sutherland White, with a black nordic cross and black Saltire, and a gold eight-pointed star where the crosses intersect, representing the sun rising position within the Scottish sky. The white represents the former arms of the Sutherland County Council, while the black represents dark skies and the peat of the Flow Country.

Islands

Flag Date Use Description
Isle of Barra flag.svg Since 2017 Flag of Barra Green, with a white Scandinavian Cross showing the ancestry of the people and places names of Barra. The green represents the green of the Barra Isles.
Western Isles Council Flag.svg Flag of the Outer Hebrides Flag of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Council of the Western Isles), sometimes used to represent the Outer Hebrides as a whole.
Tiree Island Flag.svg Since 2018 Flag of Tiree 'The Sun of Barley': green, with twelve barley stalks in a wheel pattern. The green represents the fertility of the isle and the 'barley sun' its reputation as the 'sunshine isle' and the name 'Land of Barley' (Tìr an Eòrna).
South Uist flag.svg Since 2017 Flag of South Uist A green flag bearing a blue Scandinavian Cross fimbriated in white
Flag of the Isle of Skye.svg Since 2020 Flag of Skye Blue, with a yellow Scandinavian Cross entwined with a white circle. The flag brings together elements of the island’s Viking and Celtic heritage and depicts a birlinn boat with five oars – one for every area of the island.
Flag of Gigha.png Since 2002 Flag of Gigha Green field with the logo of the Gigha Heritage Trust in the centre. The logo contains the words "THE ISLE OF GIGHA - HERITAGE TRUST" and in the middle contains an illustration of the Carragh an Tarbert standing stone.
Flag of Great Bernera.svg Flag of Great Bernera A wite saltire on a red and blue field. The top and bottom are red and have a white triskelion, composed of three armoured legs and a white lymphad respectively. The hoist and fly are blue and have a white rock in flames each.

Local authorities, towns and cities

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Angus.png 1927 Proposed flag of Angus A heraldic flag derived from the arms of Angus Council, consisting of four quarters containing a red crowned lion passant, a gold cinquefoil, a blue-white checked strip crossed with buckled red belt, and a depiction of the heart of Robert the Bruce to represent the four ancient earldoms of Angus.
Maryhill town flag.svg Since 2021 Flag of Maryhill The shape is supposed to represent a narrow boat travelling down the Forth and Clyde canal. The red represents the community's passion, the black Maryhill's industrial past, and the blue represents the River Kelvin as well as the Forth and Clyde canal.
Flag of South Lanarkshire.png  ? Flag of South Lanarkshire Split in half by two shades of blue by an "S" shape, representing the first letter of the area's name. The crest of South Lanarkshire is in the centre.

Historical flags

Flag Date Use Description
Lionrampant.svg Since 1222 Royal Banner of Scotland A banner of the ancient Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, now officially used in Scotland by representatives of the sovereign, including the First Minister of Scotland (as keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland), the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and Lord Lieutenants within their lieutenancies. This flag is also used at the royal residences of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the sovereign is not present.
Scottish Red Ensign.svg Until 1707 Scottish Red Ensign, used by the Royal Scottish Navy A Red Ensign with the Flag of Scotland in the canton.
Union Jack 1606 Scotland.svg 1606–1707 Scottish Union Flag First Union Flag with the Flag of Scotland superior to and overlying the Flag of England.
Proposed Union Jack (Scottish, blue on red, before 1617).svg c.1617 An early version of the Union Jack that appears on a painted wooden ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace A blue Saint Andrew's Saltire superimposed over a red Saint George's Cross on a white background.
Scottish Covenanter Flag.svg 17th-century Scottish Covenanter flag
Flag of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies.svg 1698 Flag of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies.
Jacobite Standard 1715.svg 1715 The Jacobite Standard of 1715. The Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland with a scroll underneath bearing the motto "NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT" on a field of dark blue.
Glenfinnan Banner.svg 1745–1746 Standard of Bonnie Prince Charlie, raised at Glenfinnan on 19 August 1745. A red flag, surrounded by a blue border on all sides, with a white square in the centre containing the White Rose of York.
Jacobite Standard (1745).svg 1745–1746 A representation of the Jacobite Standard said to have been used by Jacobite forces in 1745.
Royal Standard of Princess Elizabeth in Scotland (1944–1952).svg 1944–1952 Standard of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh The Standard of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (prior to her accession as Queen Elizabeth II), namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the first and third points bearing a Saint George's Cross, the centre point bearing a Tudor Rose.
Flag of Waveland.svg 1997–1999 Flag of Rockall A white flag with a black drawing of a rock sticking out of the waves, under a rainbow. There is a drawing of a whale on the rock.
Former Flag of Orkney.svg pre–2007 Former unofficial flag of Orkney, denied formal recognition by the Lord Lyon in 2001 The Cross of St Magnus. (An official flag was adopted in 2007).
Scottish Jacobite Party flag.png 2005–2011 Flag of the Scottish Jacobite Party Two crossed white sword blades on a field of red.
Flag of Sutherland (2018).svg 2018 Flag of Sutherland A swooping eagle, seen face on, against a vertical bicoloured red and yellow background, with the eagle counterchanged yellow and red; At the hoist three stars or mullets. Was originally unveiled as the Flag of Sutherland in February 2018, but was placed on hold due to backlash from residents. A public vote beginning in October 2018 led to the retirement of this flag in favour of the current design.
Duke of Edinburgh Standard.svg 1952–2021 Standard of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh A banner of the Coat of Arms of Prince Philip; 1st quarter representing Denmark, 2nd quarter Greece, 3rd quarter the Mountbatten family, 4th quarter Edinburgh.
Royal Standard of Prince William in Scotland (2000–2022).svg 2011–2022 Standard of Prince William, Earl of Strathearn. The Standard of Prince William, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a red scallop.

University flags

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Edinburgh Napier University.svg Flag of Edinburgh Napier University A flag diagonally divided by white and red - white in the top and fly, red in the hoist and bottom.
Flag of the University of Edinburgh.svg Flag of the University of Edinburgh A blue saltire on a white field, with a thistle in the upper quarter, a castle in the lower quarter, and an open book in the centre of the saltire. It is a banner of the University's coat of arms.
Flag of the University of Glasgow.svg Flag of the University of Glasgow
Flag of the University of St Andrews.svg Flag of the University of St Andrews A banner of the University's coat of arms.

Organisations

Flag Date Use Description
Ensign of the British Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses.svg Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board A Blue Ensign defaced with a lighthouse
Northern Lighthouse Board Commissioners Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Commissioner's flag of the Northern Lighthouse Board A White Ensign with a pre-1801 Union Flag in the canton, defaced with a lighthouse
Flag of the Church of Scotland.svg Flag of the Church of Scotland The flag of Scotland with the burning bush in the centre.
Flag of the Diocese of Brechin.svg Flag of the Diocese of Brechin A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.
Flag of the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement.svg Flag of the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement The flag of Scotland on the left side of a red flag, with a golden Triquetra knot in the centre of the red section.
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