Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
Encyclopedia
The royal standards of Canada are personal standards, or official flag
s, employed to mark the presence of the bearer at any building or area or aboard any car, ship, or airplane, both in Canada and abroad. There are three royal standards, one each for the monarch, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge. The flags are part of a larger collection of Canadian royal symbols
.
The flag consists of the escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Canada in banner form and defaced with a variant of the Royal Cypher
of Queen Elizabeth II: a blue disk with the initial E crowned, all within a wreath of rose
s, all gold-coloured. This cypher is taken from the Queen's personal flag
. The standard is protected under the Trade-marks Act; section 9(a) states: "No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for... the Royal Arms, Crest or Standard."
, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. These banners were developed in 2011 by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
, prior to that year's royal tour by the Duke of Cambridge
.
The Canadian federal government previewed the designs of this flag, and that of the Duke of Cambridge's Personal Canadian Flag, both on June 29, 2011, the day before the 2011 royal tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Prince's flag will not be flown until a future visit by Charles. Both flags were developed over a three month period by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
.
The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
forms the basis for this flag. It consists of the shield of the Canadian Royal Arms
defaced with both a blue roundel
surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves, within which is a depiction of the Prince of Wales' feathers
, and a white label
of three points, signifying the eldest son of the monarch.
by Prince William and his wife.
Simultaneously, the design of Prince of Wales' Personal Canadian Flag was unveiled, to be flown on a future visit. Both were developed over a three month period by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
.
The flag was first previewed by the Canadian federal government on June 29, 2011, the day before the 2011 royal tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The flag was first displayed by the Royals in the cockpit of the Canadian Forces
plane that the couple traveled on to Canada. According to a press release, "his personal flag will be flown day and night at any building at which he resides and on all vehicles in which he travels."
The Prime Minister of Canada
, Stephen Harper
, said: "We are proud to be once again honouring members of the Royal Family with their own personal flag for use in Canada. The flag is a testament to the special bond between Canada and the Royal Family and pays tribute to our shared history, traditions and institutions. It will be flown with great pride throughout the upcoming Royal Tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."
Prince William's flag consists of the shield of the Canadian Royal Arms defaced with both a blue roundel
surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves and shells, within which is a depiction William's cypher
(a W surmounted by a coronet
of his rank), and a white label
of three points, charged with a red shell.
The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
forms the basis for this flag, and that of the Prince of Wales.
The Queen's personal Canadian flag is employed only when the Queen is in Canada
or is attending an event abroad as the Canadian head of state
; for example, the flag was unfurled at Juno Beach
in France
when the Queen was present there for commemorations of the Normandy Landings. The flag must be broken immediately upon the sovereign's arrival and lowered directly after her departure from any building, ship, aircraft, or other space or vehicle. On land, as per Department of National Defence
protocol, the Queen's standard must be flown from a flagpole bearing as a pike
head the crest of the Canadian royal arms. As the monarch is the personification of the Canadian state, her banner also takes precedence above all other flags in Canada, including the national flag
and those of the other members of the Canadian Royal Family, and is never flown at half-mast.
No other person may use the flag; the Queen's federal representative, the governor general
, possesses a unique personal flag
, as does each of the monarch's provincial viceroys. Flags are kept at the Queen's Canadian residence, Rideau Hall
, and supplied to Department of Canadian Heritage
royal visit staff by the household staff prior to the Queen's arrival.
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
s, employed to mark the presence of the bearer at any building or area or aboard any car, ship, or airplane, both in Canada and abroad. There are three royal standards, one each for the monarch, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge. The flags are part of a larger collection of Canadian royal symbols
Canadian royal symbols
Canadian royal symbols are the visual and auditory identifiers of the Canadian monarchy and the monarch's viceroys, in both the country's federal and provincial jurisdictions...
.
Sovereign's standard
Informally called the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag, this banner was adopted and proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1962 and is used by her in her capacity as Queen of Canada. Different standards are used by Elizabeth in the other Commonwealth realms.The flag consists of the escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Canada in banner form and defaced with a variant of the Royal Cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
of Queen Elizabeth II: a blue disk with the initial E crowned, all within a wreath of rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s, all gold-coloured. This cypher is taken from the Queen's personal flag
Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II
The Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II is used in Commonwealth of Nations countries which are not Commonwealth Realms. The flag was created in 1960 and first used in 1961 for the Queen's visit to India..-Description:...
. The standard is protected under the Trade-marks Act; section 9(a) states: "No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for... the Royal Arms, Crest or Standard."
Other members of the Royal Family
Variants of the Queen's royal standard are used by two other members of the Canadian Royal Family: Prince Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. These banners were developed in 2011 by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
, prior to that year's royal tour by the Duke of Cambridge
2011 royal tour of Canada
The 2011 royal tour of Canada by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, took place between June 30 and July 8, 2011. The tour saw the newlywed couple visit all of Canada's regions: Western Canada, Central Canada, Atlantic Canada, and Northern Canada...
.
The Prince of Wales' standard
The Royal Standard of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, informally called the Prince of Wales's Personal Canadian Flag, is the personal standard, or official flag, of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, in his capacity as first in the line of succession to the Canadian throne. The flag was adopted and proclaimed in 2011.The Canadian federal government previewed the designs of this flag, and that of the Duke of Cambridge's Personal Canadian Flag, both on June 29, 2011, the day before the 2011 royal tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Prince's flag will not be flown until a future visit by Charles. Both flags were developed over a three month period by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
.
The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
The royal standards of Canada are personal standards, or official flags, employed to mark the presence of the bearer at any building or area or aboard any car, ship, or airplane, both in Canada and abroad. There are three royal standards, one each for the monarch, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke...
forms the basis for this flag. It consists of the shield of the Canadian Royal Arms
Coat of arms of Canada
The Arms of Canada is, since 1921, the official coat of arms of the Canadian monarch, and thus also of Canada...
defaced with both a blue roundel
Roundel
A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves, within which is a depiction of the Prince of Wales' feathers
Prince of Wales's feathers
The Prince of Wales's feathers is the heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent to the British and Commonwealth Realms thrones. It consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet. A ribbon below the coronet bears the motto Ich dien...
, and a white label
Label (heraldry)
In heraldry, a label is a charge resembling the strap crossing the horse’s chest from which pendants are hung. It is usually a mark of difference, but has sometimes been borne simply as a charge in its own right....
of three points, signifying the eldest son of the monarch.
The Duke of Cambridge's standard
The Duke of Cambridge's Personal Canadian Flag, or the Royal Standard of Prince William in Canada, is the personal standard, or official flag, of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, in his capacity as second in the line of succession, behind his father, to the Canadian throne. The flag was adopted and proclaimed in 2011, in advance of that year's royal tour of Canada2011 royal tour of Canada
The 2011 royal tour of Canada by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, took place between June 30 and July 8, 2011. The tour saw the newlywed couple visit all of Canada's regions: Western Canada, Central Canada, Atlantic Canada, and Northern Canada...
by Prince William and his wife.
Simultaneously, the design of Prince of Wales' Personal Canadian Flag was unveiled, to be flown on a future visit. Both were developed over a three month period by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
.
The flag was first previewed by the Canadian federal government on June 29, 2011, the day before the 2011 royal tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The flag was first displayed by the Royals in the cockpit of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
plane that the couple traveled on to Canada. According to a press release, "his personal flag will be flown day and night at any building at which he resides and on all vehicles in which he travels."
The Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, said: "We are proud to be once again honouring members of the Royal Family with their own personal flag for use in Canada. The flag is a testament to the special bond between Canada and the Royal Family and pays tribute to our shared history, traditions and institutions. It will be flown with great pride throughout the upcoming Royal Tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."
Prince William's flag consists of the shield of the Canadian Royal Arms defaced with both a blue roundel
Roundel
A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves and shells, within which is a depiction William's cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
(a W surmounted by a coronet
Coronet
A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. Unlike a crown, a coronet never has arches.The word stems from the Old French coronete, a diminutive of coronne , itself from the Latin corona .Traditionally, such headgear is – as indicated by the German equivalent...
of his rank), and a white label
Label (heraldry)
In heraldry, a label is a charge resembling the strap crossing the horse’s chest from which pendants are hung. It is usually a mark of difference, but has sometimes been borne simply as a charge in its own right....
of three points, charged with a red shell.
The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
Queen's Personal Canadian Flag
The royal standards of Canada are personal standards, or official flags, employed to mark the presence of the bearer at any building or area or aboard any car, ship, or airplane, both in Canada and abroad. There are three royal standards, one each for the monarch, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke...
forms the basis for this flag, and that of the Prince of Wales.
Use and protocol
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
or is attending an event abroad as the Canadian head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
; for example, the flag was unfurled at Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
when the Queen was present there for commemorations of the Normandy Landings. The flag must be broken immediately upon the sovereign's arrival and lowered directly after her departure from any building, ship, aircraft, or other space or vehicle. On land, as per Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
protocol, the Queen's standard must be flown from a flagpole bearing as a pike
Pike (weapon)
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the...
head the crest of the Canadian royal arms. As the monarch is the personification of the Canadian state, her banner also takes precedence above all other flags in Canada, including the national flag
Flag of Canada
The national flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and , is a red flag with a white square in its centre, featuring a stylized 11-pointed red maple leaf. Its adoption in 1965 marked the first time a national flag had been officially adopted in Canada to replace the Union Flag...
and those of the other members of the Canadian Royal Family, and is never flown at half-mast.
No other person may use the flag; the Queen's federal representative, the governor general
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, possesses a unique personal flag
Flag of the Governor General of Canada
The Flag of the Governor General of Canada was adopted in 1981. It features Canada's royal crest; a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its paw, standing on a wreath of the official colours of Canada , on a blue background...
, as does each of the monarch's provincial viceroys. Flags are kept at the Queen's Canadian residence, Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
, and supplied to Department of Canadian Heritage
Department of Canadian Heritage
The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage |department]] of the Government of Canada with responsibility for policies and programs regarding the arts, culture, media, communications networks, official languages , status of women, sports , and multiculturalism...
royal visit staff by the household staff prior to the Queen's arrival.
See also
- List of Canadian flags
- National symbols of CanadaNational symbols of CanadaNational symbols of Canada are the symbols that are used in Canada and abroad to represent the country and its people. Prominently, the use of the maple leaf as a Canadian symbol dates back to the early 18th century, and is depicted on its current and previous flags, the penny, and on the coat of...
- Queen's Personal Australian FlagQueen's Personal Australian FlagThe Queen's Personal Australian Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Australia is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Australia. The flag was approved for use in 1962. It is only used by the Queen when she is in Australia, or attending an event abroad in her...
- Queen's Personal Barbadian FlagQueen's Personal Barbadian FlagThe Queen's Personal Barbadian Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Barbados, is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Barbados. The flag was approved for use in the 1970s and is only used by the Queen when she is in Barbados, or attending an event abroad in her...
- Queen's Personal Jamaican FlagQueen's Personal Jamaican FlagThe Queen's Personal Jamaican Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Jamaica is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Jamaica. The flag was approved for use in 1962 and the proportion as approximately 4:7~. It is only used by the Queen when she is in Jamaica, or...
- Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand
- Royal Standard of the United Kingdom