Flag of the Falkland Islands
Encyclopedia
The first flag of the Falkland Islands
was adopted on 29 September 1948. It was a Blue Ensign
with the Union Flag
in the canton and the coat-of-arms
superimposed upon a white disc. In 1999, the size of the arms was increased and the white disc removed to create the current flag.
A Red Ensign
with the Falklands coat of arms superimposed was adopted in 1998 and is used as the Islands' civil ensign
. Previously the plain red ensign was used by ships in the territorial waters around the Falklands.
The Governor of the Falkland Islands
uses a Union Flag
defaced with the coat of arms.
(2 April – 14 June 1982) during the Falklands War
. In support of the Argentine claim of the Islands, the South American countries of UNASUR agreed in 2010 to bar from their ports any ships flying it.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
was adopted on 29 September 1948. It was a Blue Ensign
Blue Ensign
The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....
with the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
in the canton and the coat-of-arms
Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands
The coat of arms of the Falkland Islands was granted to the Falkland Islands on September 29, 1948.The ship represents the Desire, the vessel in which the English sea-captain, John Davis, is reputed to have discovered the Falkland Islands in 1592....
superimposed upon a white disc. In 1999, the size of the arms was increased and the white disc removed to create the current flag.
A Red Ensign
Red Ensign
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
with the Falklands coat of arms superimposed was adopted in 1998 and is used as the Islands' civil ensign
Civil ensign
The civil ensign is the national flag flown by civil ships to denote nationality...
. Previously the plain red ensign was used by ships in the territorial waters around the Falklands.
The Governor of the Falkland Islands
Governor of the Falkland Islands
The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands, acting "in Her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf" as the islands' de facto head of state in the absence of the British monarch...
uses a Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
defaced with the coat of arms.
Use of the flag
Since its approval the Falklands flag has been used continuously, excluding the time of occupationOccupation of the Falkland Islands
The Military Administration of the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands was the short-lived, Argentine-controlled government of a long disputed group of islands in the South Atlantic which had been governed by the United Kingdom since the 1833 re-establishment of British rule ...
(2 April – 14 June 1982) during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. In support of the Argentine claim of the Islands, the South American countries of UNASUR agreed in 2010 to bar from their ports any ships flying it.