Royal and Vice-Regal flags

His Majesty The King’s flag for Australia

His Majesty King Charles III has continued the tradition begun by Queen Elizabeth II for a flag to be flown to acknowledge His Majesty’s role as King of Australia. His Majesty gave approval for the flag’s design on 30 August 2024 and it will be first used during the 2024 Royal Visit.

The flag features the six quarters of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, surrounded by an ermine border to symbolise the Federation.

His Majesty’s flag for Australia is used in the same way as the Royal Standard in the United Kingdom. The flag signifies the presence of The King and is flown when His Majesty is visiting Australia. The flag can be flown from all buildings, cars, boats or aircraft that His Majesty occupies. Where practical, when it is flown on or outside a building, no other flag should be flown with it.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING’S FLAG FOR AUSTRALIA

The Governor-General’s flag

The King’s representative in the Commonwealth of Australia, the Governor‑General of Australia, also has a personal flag. In 1930, King George V approved the use of a new 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 current Australian version of the flag was adopted on 1 July 2024 and first used by Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC.

The flag shows the Royal Crest, which consists of the Tudor crown 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 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.