Flags of the British overseas territories
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The flags of the British overseas territories are generally of a pattern, which has changed in style over the generations to settle at an attractive and functional standard. Those of the Crown dependencies have more variety.
The territories generally use a blue ensign, which pattern was formerly reserved for government use. Their merchant ensigns, for use at sea, are the equivalent red ensign. The Crown dependencies also have red ensigns of their own. Nevertheless, all Crown dependencies and overseas territories are entitled to use the plain British red ensign.
Crown Dependencies
The three Crown dependencies are the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man. Guernsey's islands have their own flags also.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bailiwick of Guernsey: | |||
| File:Flag of Guernsey.svg | 1985 - | Guernsey | A golden cross within a red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) |
| File:Civil Ensign of Guernsey.svg | Civil Ensign of Guernsey | A red ensign with a golden cross in the fly | |
| File:Flag of Alderney.svg | 1993 - | Alderney | A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with an inescutcheon of the island's arms. |
| File:Flag of Herm.svg | Herm | A St George's Cross with the arms of the island in the canton. | |
| File:Flag of Sark.svg | 1938 - | Sark | A St George's Cross with two lions (the arms of the Plantagenet Dukes of Normandy) in the canton. Strictly speaking, this is the personal flag of the Seigneur. |
| Bailiwick of Jersey: | |||
| File:Flag of Jersey.svg | 1981 - | Jersey | A red saltire on a white field defaced with the island's badge |
| File:Civil Ensign of Jersey.svg | 2012 - | Civil Ensign of Jersey | A red ensign with the island's badge and a Norman ducal crown |
| The Isle of Man: | |||
| File:Flag of the Isle of Man.svg | 1931 - | Isle of Man | A triskelion on a red field |
| File:Civil Ensign of the Isle of Man.svg | 1971 - | Civil Ensign of the Isle of Man | A red ensign with a triskelion |
Overseas territories
In 1999, the maritime flags of the British Overseas Territories were updated at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The white discs were removed from the field of the flags and each respective coat of arms was increased in size for ease of identification. As the MoD only had authority over sea flags, the governments of the overseas territories were free to continue using the flags with white discs on land. The overseas territories' governments did switch to the updated flags over a staggered period of time, though some old-style flags with white discs may still be seen.
Anguilla and Gibraltar have distinctive land flags also.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg | Flag used in Akrotiri and Dhekelia | The Union Flag may be used in any British territory, and Akrotiri & Dhekelia have no other specific flag | |
| File:Flag of Anguilla.svg | 1990 - | Anguilla | A blue ensign defaced with the Arms of Anguilla |
| File:Flag of Bermuda.svg | 1910 - | Bermuda | A red ensign defaced with the arms of Bermuda |
| File:Flag of the British Antarctic Territory.svg | 1963 - | The British Antarctic Territory | A white ensign defaced with the arms of the British Antarctic Territory |
| File:Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg | 1990- | The British Indian Ocean Territory | A blue ensign with white wavy lines, defaced with the arms of the territory |
| File:Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg | 1960 - | The British Virgin Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the British Virgin Islands |
| File:Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg | 1958 - | The Cayman Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of Cayman Islands |
| File:Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg | 1999 - | The Falkland Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of Falkland Islands |
| File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg | 1982 - | Gibraltar | Two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the centre of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centred in the red band |
| File:Government Ensign of Gibraltar.svg | 1921 - | Gibraltar Government Ensign | A British Blue Ensign with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly |
| File:Civil Ensign of Gibraltar.svg | 1996 - | Civil Ensign of Gibraltar | A British Red Ensign with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly |
| File:Flag of Montserrat.svg | 1909 - | Montserrat | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of Montserrat |
| File:Flag of the Pitcairn Islands.svg | 1984 - | The Pitcairn Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Arms of Pitcairn Island |
| File:Flag of Saint Helena.svg | 1984 - | St Helena | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
| File:Flag of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.svg | 1985 - | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
| File:Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg | 1968 - | The Turks and Caicos Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands |
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
In St Helena, each inhabited island uses a different flag, the territory's own flag flying only over St Helena.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Ascension Island.svg | 2013 - | Ascension Island | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of Ascension Island |
| File:Flag of Saint Helena.svg | 1984 - | St Helena | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
| File:Flag of Tristan da Cunha.svg | 2002 - | Tristan da Cunha | A blue ensign defaced with the arms of Tristan da Cunha |
Governors' flags
Before 1999, all Governors' flags had smaller discs and the outer green garland without the gold ring. Therefore, the dates given do not reflect this minor, consistent change.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of the Governor of Anguilla.svg | 1990 - | Personal flag of the Governor of Anguilla | A Union Flag defaced with the arms of Anguilla |
| File:Flag of the Governor of Bermuda.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of Bermuda | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of Bermuda |
| File:Flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory.svg | 1962 - | Personal flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the British Antarctic Territory |
| File:Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg | 1990 - | Flag of the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory | A design based on the Blue Ensign with a Union Jack in the union and wavy white lines going horiontally along the field, defaced with the arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory. This flag is also used as the de facto flag of the Territory. |
| File:Flag of the Governor of the British Virgin Islands.svg | 1971 - | Personal flag of the Governor of the British Virgin Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the British Virgin Islands |
| File:Flag of the Governor of the Cayman Islands.svg | 1971 - | Personal flag of the Governor of the Cayman Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the Cayman Islands |
| File:Flag of the Governor of the Falkland Islands.svg | 1948 - | Personal flag of the Governor of the Falkland Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the Falkland Islands |
| File:Flag of the Governor of Gibraltar.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of Gibraltar | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of Gibraltar |
| File:Flag of the Governor of Montserrat.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of Montserrat | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of Montserrat |
| File:Flag of the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the Pitcairn Islands |
| File:Flag of the Governor of Saint Helena.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of St Helena |
| File:Flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.svg | 1999 - | Personal flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
| File:Flag of the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha.svg | 2002 - | Personal flag of the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of Tristan da Cunha. The Administrator is subject to the Governor of St Helena |
| File:Flag of the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands |
