Royal and Vice-Regal flags

Her Majesty The Queen’s personal flag for Australia

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has a special flag that is flown to acknowledge her role as Queen of Australia.

Her Majesty gave her approval for the flag’s design on 20 September 1962 and it was first used during the 1963 royal visit. It is flown only when she is visiting Australia.

The flag consists of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms with a large gold seven‑pointed Commonwealth Star in the centre. Within the Commonwealth Star, Her Majesty’s initial ‘E’ in gold, above which rests a stylised crown (the crown of St Edward), is enclosed by a garland (a ‘chaplet’) of gold roses. These elements are set on a blue roundel.

Her Majesty’s personal flag for Australia is used in the same way as the Royal Standard in the United Kingdom. When it is flown on or outside a building, no other flag should be flown with it. The flag signifies the presence of The Queen.

On 7 July 2000, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 by the British Parliament, Her Majesty The Queen attended a church service at Westminster Abbey in London. Her Majesty The Queen’s personal flag for Australia flew at the Abbey, the first time it has flown in the United Kingdom.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL FLAG FOR AUSTRALIA

The Governor-General’s flag

The Queen’s representative in the Commonwealth of Australia, the Governor‑General of Australia, also has a personal flag. In 1930 King George V had approved the use of a new personal flag by governors-general of the dominions, to reflect their changed status from representatives of the British authorities to personal representatives of the Sovereign. The Australian version of the new flag was adopted on 16 July 1936 and first used in that year, by Lord Gowrie.

The flag shows the Royal Crest, which consists of the crown of St Edward beneath a crowned lion. Beneath the crest is a golden scroll inscribed with the words ‘Commonwealth of Australia’. The background is dark blue. The proportions are one to two.

The Governor-General’s flag is flown continuously when the Governor‑General is in residence. It is also flown on the vehicle in which the Governor‑General is travelling.

Governors-general, between 1909 and 1936, used as their personal flag a Union Jack with a badge at its centre showing a seven pointed gold star, surmounted by an Imperial Crown and surrounded by a laurel wreath.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S FLAG

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S FLAG PRE 1936

State Governors’ flags

The Governor of each Australian state has a personal flag or standard, generally the state flag with the addition of a crown above the badge, as illustrated below.

The Administrator of the Northern Territory flies the Australian National Flag.