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King's Flag for Australia

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King's Flag for Australia
Adopted30 August 2024; 50 days ago (2024-08-30)[1]
DesignThe six quarters of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, surrounded by an ermine border.

The King's Flag for Australia is the personal flag of Charles III in his role as King of Australia. It is used in a similar way as the Royal Standard of the UK, by signalling the monarch's presence within a building or vehicle in Australia.

History

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Queen Elizabeth II was the first Australian monarch to adopt a personal flag for Australia. Her flag was approved for use on 20 September 1962, and used for the first time during the 1963 royal tour.[2]

King Charles III similarly adopted a personal Australian flag. It was approved on 30 August 2024 and used for the first time on his inaugural royal tour to the country in October 2024.[1]

Description

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Charles III personal flag (2024–present)

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The flag consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia.

Each of the six sections of the flag represents the heraldic badge of the Australian states, and the whole is surrounded by an ermine border representing the federation of the states:[1][3]

Queen's Personal Australian Flag
Adopted20 September 1962; 62 years ago (1962-09-20)[2]
DesignThe six quarters of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, surrounded by an ermine border defaced with a gold federation star containing a blue disc
Flag with proportions 22:31[citation needed]

Elizabeth II personal flag (1962–2024)

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The personal flag of Queen Elizabeth differed from that of Charles III as it was defaced with a gold seven-pointed federation star with a blue disc containing the letter E below a crown, surrounded by a garland of golden roses. The star represented the states and territories. The blue disc was taken from the Queen's Personal Flag as used for duties within the Commonwealth of Nations.

Use

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The King's Personal Flag for Australia is only used when he is visiting Australia, on Royal Australian Navy vessels, on official buildings, cars and aircraft that the King occupies. It may additionally be used overseas when the King is conducting official duties in their role as King of Australia. When it is flown on or outside a building, it should be the only flag present.[2][1]

Coronation standards

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During the coronation ceremony of the monarch at Westminster Abbey, the standards of various countries are carried by various officials in the procession inside the abbey. These flags are the country's coat of arms as a banner of arms. For Australia, similar standards based on the current and previous coat of arms were used thrice: at the coronations of King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II in 1911, 1937, and 1953, respectively.[citation needed] The banner of the 1908–1912 coat of arms was used in 1911,[4][5] with the banner of the current arms used in 1937 and 1953.[6] The banner was in a 3:4 ratio and without defacement.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Royal and Vice-Regal flags". Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Her Majesty the Queen's Personal Flag for Australia". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ^ Government of Australia: Department of the Environment and Water Resources
  4. ^ "CORONATION STANDARDS". Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954). 15 May 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Alfred Pearse (c.1854–1933) – Coronation of George V: Standard bearers". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Australian Standard For Coronation". Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954). 23 May 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  • Barraclough, E. M. C. and Crampton, W. G. (1978). Flags of the World. London: Frederick Warne. ISBN 0-7232-2015-8. P. 207
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