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British Royal Flags: Prince Charles

Flags used up to 2002 and Ascension as King

Last modified: 2022-10-08 by rob raeside
Keywords: royal standard | prince charles | queen elizabeth ii | prince of wales | duke of rothesay | duke of cornwall |
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image by Graham Bartram

Source: http://flags.net/UNKG02.htm


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Personal Standard

The standard of the Prince of Wales used in England is known from at least 1901. It is the Royal Standard with the white label with three pendants, with a heart-shield of Wales ensigned with a prince's coronet. Neubecker (1992) (originally published in 1939) leaves a blank spot where one would expect the flag, as the title was vacant in 1939.  Evans (1970) shows 8 fleur-de-lys on the tressure flory-counter-flory; Politikens Flagbog (2000) and World Flag Database show 12 fleur-de-lys, for the most part obscured.

The Prince of Wales web page on standards states that there are three sizes: Royal Standard proportion, "heraldic" proportion and "car".
Colin Dobson, 19 July 2005

According to the Prince of Wales web site, the rules for using the standards are that the Prince of Wales's Personal Standard may be used on appropriate occasions, except when he is visiting Scotland or Wales or the Duchy of Cornwall, where the special standards are used. However, when he is visiting any unit, station or ship of the Armed Forces, his Personal Standard is flown even if the visit is within Wales or Scotland. It is not used during a private visit.
Source: Prince of Wales, website, http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk, consulted 03 January 2007
Colin Dobson, 3 January 2007

Unlike Princess Anne's Standard, which did not change when she gained the title Princess Royal, the Standard of her older brother Charles, which had been differenced with a plain white label of three points, did change when he became Prince of Wales in 1958, and the Arms of Wales ensigned with a Ducal Coronet were added. This is similar to the 1911 Standard of the Prince of Wales, except for the changes made to the Royal Standard in the intervening period.
David Prothero, 2 May 2007


Welsh Standard of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales

[Prince of Wales Welsh standard] by Marcus Schmöger, 12 November 2001

As a personal standard for Wales, Prince Charles uses a square banner-of-arms showing the traditional arms of Wales (quarterly of Or and Gules, four lions passant counterchanged); on a green inescutcheon there is a princely coronet.
Marcus Schmöger, 12 November 2001

The Prince of Wales web page says that the flag was first promulgated in 1962 and was flown for the first time on 11 June 1969 at Cardiff Castle for the inauguration of the Royal Regiment of Wales, of which The Prince was appointed Colonel-in-Chief on 1 July 1969.
Colin Dobson, 19 July 2005

This flag is normally ratio 1:1, except Politikens Flagbog (2000) shows it as 2:3. The image in Evans (1970) has the lions armed and langued crimson, or something like that. We have azure, like World Flag Database, but I don't know whether it's actually specified. Evans (1970) described green as "the Welsh colour".
Peter Hans van den Muizenberg
, 24 April 2002

The reference to green as a Welsh colour is probably in reference to the livery colours of the Tudors which were green and white.
David Prothero, 27 April 2002

Badge of the Prince of Wales ("Ich Dien")

The Prince of Wales uses as a badge three feathers, with the motto "Ich Dien" (I serve) below.  There are several arguments about the origins of the three feathers and the motto. Some claim that Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III, adopted them after defeating John of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia at Crecy. Other that the feathers come from his mother's (Philippa of Hainault's) family. There is even a story that the are a corruption of three lions with feathery tails!
Graham Bartram, 25 March 2002


Standard of the Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles for Scotland

from Prince of Wales website

The full list of Prince Charles' Scottish titles is H.R.H. The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland.
Andrew Yong, 18 July 2002

The banner was designed in 1974 by Sir Iain Moncrieffe of That Ilk in his capacity as Albany Herald and approved by The Queen later that year. The standard, exclusively for use when The Prince is in Scotland, was first flown on July 21, 1976, when he visited Loch Kishorn, Wester Ross, to launch the Ninian Central oil platform production dock, the site of which was part of the ancient lordship of the Isles. The standard is also known as HRH's Scottish Banner.

The first and fourth quarterings of the banner - blue and white chequered band across a gold background - represent the Great Steward of Scotland. The second and third quarterings - a black galley with red flags on a white background - represent the Lord of the Isles. Superimposed in the centre is a small gold shield with the red Lion Rampant within a red Royal Tressure on it, charged with a blue label of 3 points. This represents the Dukedom of Rothesay.
Source: Prince of Wales website

located by John Griffith, 4 August 2003

"British Flags & Emblems" by Graham Bartram confirms the comment about the separate banner used by the Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles).
Colin Dobson, 18 October 2004


Standard of the Duke of Cornwall for Cornwall

based on World Flag Database

Black fifteen bezants, placed 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. (Ratio 3:5) - World Flag Database
Peter Hans van den Muizenberg
, 24 April 2002

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