Last modified: 2025-12-06 by 
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: flag ceremonial | denmark |
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![[Denmark merchant]](../images/d/dk19.gif)
14:17, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 Nov 2025
This contribution is of course only an excerpt of the Ceremonial Book of the Danish Ministry of Defence. I concentrate on those features related to flags.
The book also gives detailed information how to fly a flag on funerals and weddings, how to give name to a warship, the "plot" of funerals and parades,
two flag charts displaying the merchant ensigns and the war ensigns of NATO and Non-NATO states and many more features.
Source: Ceremonial Book of the Danish Ministry of Defence (FKOBST L.202-4), version 2019 (for complete contribution)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025
The Dannebrog is a flag with a white cross on a red background.
The flag is available as a rectangular flag (Danish: stutflag), which is used as a national and commercial flag,
and as a swallow tailed flag (Danish: splitflag), naval ensign (Danish: orlogsflag, i.e. literally "war flag") or jack (Danish: orlogsgøs),
which is used by state institutions and the Armed Forces.
A jack is a smaller naval ensign to be hoisted on the staff of a Navy ship´s prow.
The shade of red is usually high red (Danish: højrød) (=Pantone 186 / =RGB 206-17-38) or brownish naval red (Danish: orlogsrød) (=Pantone 201C / =RGB 163-38-56).
Please note that RGBs are not mentioned within source.
Certain non-state institutions have been granted royal permission to fly split flags with special badges in canton, which is only a minor privilege.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 Nov 2025
![[stutflag high red (Denmark)]](../images/d/dk-col1.gif) image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025 |
![[splitflag high red (Denmark)]](../images/d/dk-col1^.gif) image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025 |
![[splitflag naval red (Denmark)]](../images/d/dk-col2~.gif) image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025 |
Above the different colour shades according to source are given, for high red see left and central images above, for naval red see right image above.
According to own observation the high red in practice is or was lighter than the shade from the manual, and I am fairly sure, that is still in use.
The ceremonial book itself displays in its images a lighter shade of high red and a darker shade of naval red, probably in order to stress the difference in images.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025
According to the Ministry of Justice´s circular letter on official flag days, the flags of Grønland shall be flown on Grønland´s National Day on 21 June
and the flag of Færøerne on the national festive day of the islands on 29 July.
Both flags shall not be used in cases where the Dannebrog/naval flag functions as a national flag, including on the ships of the Navy,
in international operations, at Danish representations abroad and the Flag of the Kingdom of Denmark on Holmen Church.
During voyages in waters of Grønland and Færøerne Danish naval ships hoist their top flag alongside the Danish flag when hoisting is carried out on the occasion of the local commemorative days or similar.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Nov 2025
On any flagpole may be hoisted a large flag (Danish: stort flag), a midsize flag (Danish: mellemstort flag) and a storm flag. (Danish: stormflag).
The height of a flag at hoist related to the height of the flagpole usually shall be approximately for:
If the national flag is hoisted together with flags of foreign countries, it shall always be hoisted on the position of honour.
1. In case of two flagpoles the position of honour is heraldically right (= visible left).
2. In case of an odd number of flagpoles the position of honour is that one in centre. The next one is heraldically right (=visible left) from centre,
the 3rd one heraldically left (= visible right) from centre and so on continuously changing the side.
3. In case of an even number of flagpoles the two flagpoles in the middle hold in principle hold the position of honour.
The national flag is hoisted on the pole heraldically right (= visible left) of this pair.
4. In case of more than eight poles, no matter whether odd or even numbers, the position of honour is the most outward (heraldically) right pole.
5. Flags of Nordic countries are hoisted as follows (number of importance in brackets) from point of view of a spectator:
Where the Dannebrog, alone or together with the flags of other nations, is part of foreign staffs, embassies or the like, it is flown in accordance with local regulations.
Flagging it at authorities of the Ministry of Defence it is carried out in accordance with the following:
1. The flag is only flown from one flagpole at each authority, unless the Defence Command has decided otherwise.
Where several authorities are located in close proximity to each other, if one authority is located, an agreement can be reached between the authorities regarding the same flagging.
2. When flying at authorities of the Ministry of Defence, only the Dannebrog may be used as a split flag and from Navy ships the naval ensign.
Naval ensigns are also used for flagging at Naval authorities on land.
3. When flying abroad, the Dannebrog is generally used as rectangular version (Danish: stutflag).
At Danish military camps on missions abroad, the swallow tailed flag (Danish: splitflag) is used, and from the Navy vessels the naval ensign (Danish: orlogsflag) is used.
Hoisting at half-staff is done by first raising the flag to the top, where it remains for a moment,
and then lowering it so that the top edge of the flag is approximately 1/3 of the heigtht of the flagpole below the finial on a free-standing pole.
For other flagpoles, the centre of the flag should generally be approximately at the same height as the centre of the flagpole.
When the flag is to be lowered at sunset, it is first hoisted to the top and remains there for a moment, after which the lowering takes place.
1. event of death as a result of killed in action
2. event of death in daily service, training or similar circumstances
3. memorial service
4. homecoming ceremony
5. funeral and interment of soldiers killed in action
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Nov 2025
The flag is usually hoisted by two people, one of whom is usually the commander of the guard. The person, who raises or lowers the flag must remove his or her headgear.
In the Navy, both must remove their headgear. When the flag is to be raised/lowered, the commander of the guard commands "Salute the flag",
after which the flag is raised/lowered.
When the flag is raised/lowered, the guard commander orders "Continue" (Danish: Fortsæt).
At Navy bases the commands are "Ready everywhere" (Danish: Klar overalt), "Hoist/Lower" (Danish: Hejs/Hal ned) and "Proceed" (Danish Gå videre).
When hoisting and lowering the flag, military personnel must face and salute (the flag).
Military personnel of the Navy and civilians salute by facing (the flag) and bare their heads.
Units line up and salute by looking towards the flag on command. Units armed with rifles present their rifles.
Drivers of motor vehicles are not required to salute, but stop the vehicle and turn off the engine until the flag has been hoisted/lowered.
On the flag bastion at the Salute Battery Sixtus, the sovereignty flag of the Kingdom of Denmark, colloquially called the "Flag of the Realm",
which is a swallow tailed flag on a flagpole, is hoisted from sunrise to sunset.
The battery fires every day on 8 am a single shot of announcement and another one at sunset. If sunrise is after 8am the first shot is fired at sunrise.
At naval bases and similar locations of service swallow tailed flags are flown on flagpoles.
Instructions for naval flags follow the requirements compatible with the service.
At less important naval authorities ashore split flags are hoisted on flagpoles during flag time on the official flag days.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Nov 2025
Generally the following flags may be awarded:
1. Colours and Standards inaugurated by the Royal House (Danish: Kongeligt indviede faner/estandarter)
2. Naval Ensigns (literally: "war flags" / Danish: Orlogsfaner)
3. Office Flags (Danish: Embedsfaner)
4. School Flags (Danish: Skolefaner)
5. Command Flags (Danish: Kommandofaner)
6. The Flag of Oath of the Navy (Søværnets orlogsfane Edsfanen)
Colours are the identification and rallying point of a unit, an authority or an office, which traditionally indicates the location of the commander in question. Symbolically a colour of a unit must never fall to the ground or be captured by the enemy, as the unit is then considered to be defeated.
Standards are used by the Hussars Guards Regiment (Gardehusar-Regimentet) and the Jutland Dragoons Regiment (Jydske Dragon Regimentet) and have the same function as the colours, but are somehow smaller for practical reasons.
Design and Use of Colours and StandardsThe colour/standard - unlike a (normal) flag - exists only in a single exemplar, which is assigned to a unit. The design of the colour/standard, based on the Dannebrog, symbolises the soldier´s relationship to the Royal House, the people and the fatherland. The colour/standard is used nowadays exclusively for ceremonial occasions, for example: a unit´s anniversary, change of command, official visits, participation in major ceremonies, churches etc. regarding funerals/interments. Newly raised units and training units with conscripts must be presented before the colour/standard at a parade.
Naval ensigns may be raised at major naval offices ashore after recommendation and approval from the Chief of Defence.
Naval ensigns are used and respected as the colours/standards of the Defence in general.
When commands run by the Navy do not have an assigned naval ensign and must fly a flag, a naval ensign on a staff is normally used.
A naval ensign (2 1/3 cloth) is nailed to a flagpole (approx. 3 m), and a boat hook of an approved model is used as a flagpole.
The Chief of Defence may, upon recommendation, approve and award flags for those authorities and offices, if it is impossible, to gain a flag, consecrated by the Royal House.
Office flags may be displayed on a stand in the office of the head of the office or authority.
Office flags may be displayed on a stand in connection with indoor events (meetings, receptions etc.).
Office flags may be carried in and out and covered with and without ceremonial actions.
Office flags must have been brought in with a special command in connection with the authority (on site) having taken up the parade.
In such cases the banner must be carried onto its place in accordance with this purpose.
In case a flag inaugurated by the Royal House is included in a parade, office flags have to be excluded.
The same rules are valid for school flags.
Units that cannot receice a consecrated flag or an office flag, usually in service abroad may use a command flag as national rallying point.
Existing command flags are kept at the relevant staffs or commands and issued as needed.
Command flags may be issued to units in mission areas.
Command flags may be displayed indoors on a stand according to the specification of the commander or office.
Command flags may be displayed on a stand in connection with indoor events (meetings, receptions etc.).
Command flags may be carried indoors and outdoors and covered with and without ceremonial actions.
Command flags may not be used in flag command in connection with parade, except for assembled units deployed on international service.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2025
The Flag of Oath is considered to be the oldest colour of the Navy.
It is a state ensign (splitflag) in Dannebrogsrød without badge.
But it has a special finial, taken from the flag of a division from 1757.
The finial shows the year, a dual cypher of King Frederik 5, a royal crown and an orb.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2025
Royal Order regarding the Ensign and Jack of Merchant Ships and Trader Ships as well as the chartered Companies' Ships, including pennants and streamers.
1. The Danish Merchant flag shall be red with a white cross without swallow-tail; taking the width at the hoist as basis, the white cross shall be
1/7 of the width, the 2 aftermost quarters shall be square, and the foremost quarters
shall be 6/4 of the aftermost squares.
2. The merchant streamer shall be without swallow-tail of one colour, or with a white cross; having a length of 2 to 5 alen, depending on the ship,
and the width 1/16 of the length. [An alen is two feet.]
6. All the royal merchant ships shall fly the merchant ensign from the ensign staff, but from the bow a royal jack, and from the main mast a royal
pennant; all the subjects´ merchant ships only merchant ensign from the ensign staff and from the mast tops merchant streamers.
9. All flag makers and captains shall abide by this order, and no ensigns, jacks, pennants or streamers, unless of the prescribed proportions,
may be produced, ordered produced or flown. Transgressions may be punished as under the royal order of Feb 17th 1741 regarding the usage of pennants.
Forordning om Coffardi-Skibes og Commis-Farernes samt de octrojerede Compagniers Skibes Flag og Giøs, samt Vimpeler og Fløie.
1. Det danske Coffardi-Flag skal vœre rødt med hvidt Kors uden Split; Og skal, naar Flagets Brede ved Stangen sœttes som Basis og Grund for
Proportionen, det hvide Kors vœre 1/7 af Flagets Brede ved Stangen; De 2de agterste røde Qvarterer vœre en lige Fiirkant, og de forreste røde
Qvarterer vœre 6/4 af de agterste Fiirkanter.
2. Coffardie-Fløien skal vœre uden Split af een Couleur, eller med et hvidt Kors; I Lœngden fra 2 til 5 Alen, efter Fartøjets Beskaffenhed,
og Breden 1/16 af Lœngden.
6. Alle Kongens egne Coffardie-Skibe skal føre Coffardie-Flaget fra Campagnen, men fra Bogspydet en Konge-Giøs, og fra Toppen Konge-Fløie;
og alle andre Undersaatternes Coffardie-Skibe alene Coffardie-Flag fra Campagnen, og fra Toppene Coffardie-Fløie.
9. Alle Flagmagere og Skippere skal rette sig efter denne Fr., og ingen Flage, Giøs, Vimpler eller Fløie, uden efter foranførte Proportion,
enten forfœrdige eller lade forfœrdige, eller paa Coffardie-Skibene uden efter denne Fr. føre, alt under Straf efter Fr. om Vimpel-Føringen
17 Febr. 1741, som herved igientages; og skal med Angivelse, Processer og Bødernes Inddrivelse denne Fr. angaaende i alle Maader forholdes,
som i Fr. om Vimpel-Føringen er anordnet.
Pedersen, 1979, mentions that a royal resolution in 1854 "allowed everybody in the kingdom to fly the square Dannebrog from his property or home."
The resolution could be found at retsinfo.dk, nowadays obsolete.
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