List of UK flags
English flags Northern Irish flags Scottish flags Welsh flags Cornish flags Royal Standards City, town and village flags Former British Empire

This is a list of English flags, symbolic national and sub-national flags, standards and banners used exclusively in England.

The Flag Institute maintains a national registry of United Kingdom flags, the UK Flag Registry.^[1] Authority to grant heraldic bearings to individuals and corporations belongs to the sovereign as the fount of all honours, and in England, Northern Ireland and Wales this is delegated to the College of Arms. Local authority flags come within this category when based on the arms granted to that authority. Such a flag is the authority's personal property, representing that authority rather than its area.

National flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	from c.1245	Flag of England (also known as the St George's Cross)	A centred red cross on a white background, 3:5.[2]

Royal Standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1198 - 1369	The Royal Banner of England is a banner of the arms symbolising England and its monarchs.[3] Its blazon is Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure,[4][5] meaning three identical gold lions with blue tongues and claws, walking and facing the observer, arranged in a column on a red background. This coat, designed in the Middle Ages, has been variously combined with those of France, Scotland, Ireland, Nassau and Hanover, according to dynastic and other political changes affecting England, but has not itself been altered since the reign of Richard I.
	1837 –	The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. It is the banner of Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Queen of the United Kingdom.	Split into quadrants, the first and fourth quadrants contain three gold lions passant on a red field (representing England and Wales); the second quadrant contains a red lion rampant on a gold field (representing Scotland); the third quadrant contains a gold harp on a blue field (representing Ireland).
		Standard of the Duke of Cornwall	15 golden circles forming a triangle on a black field
		Standard of the Duchy of Lancaster	The Royal Standard of England, with a three point label, each containing three fleurs-de-lis
	1305 –	Standard of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports	A banner of the Lord's coat of arms featuring three Lions passant guardant con-joined to these hulls, all in gold

Government

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1829 –	Flag of the Metropolitan Police	The Badge of the Metropolitan Police on a blue background, with white squares at the edge

Church

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Anglican Communion	A dark blue background with the symbol of the Anglican Communion (a compass rose surmounted by a bishop's mitre; in the centre is a cross of St. George). The Greek motto, Ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς ("The truth will set you free") is a quotation from John 8:32.
File:Westminster Abbey Standard.png		Flag of Westminster Abbey	Tudor arms between Tudor roses, above Edward the Confessor's arms

Sub-national flags

Historic counties

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	Traditional	Flag of Buckinghamshirereg	Traditional county flag. A field party per pale of black and red with a white swan.
	Early 19th century	Saint Piran's Flag, the Flag of Cornwallreg	A white cross on a black field, 3:5.[6]
	22 September 2006	Flag of Derbyshirereg	A green cross with a white border on a sky blue field, with a gold Tudor rose in the centre, 3:5.[7]
	23 July 2002	Flag of Devon, alias St Petroc's Crossreg	A white cross with a black border on a green field, 3:5.[8]
	16 September 2008	Flag of Dorset – The Dorset Cross, aka St Wite's Crossreg	A white cross with a red border on a gold field, 3:5.[9]
		Flag of Essexreg	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes.[10]
	March 2008 –	Flag of Gloucestershire – The Severn Crossreg	A mid-blue cross, outlined in cream, against an apple green background – the winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium.[11]
	November 2008	Flag of Hertfordshirereg coa	Against eight blue and white wavy lines, representing the county's rivers, a gold shield bearing a resting deer or hart.[12]
	25 June 2009	Flag of Huntingdonshire reg	On a green background, a gold, ribboned hunting horn – a flag displayed on the crest of the district council (and former county council) arms
	1605	Flag of Kentreg	A red field with a white horse in the centre, 3:5.[13]
	Modern form since 2008	Flag of Lancashirereg	The Red Rose of Lancashire on a yellow field (originally a white field) [14][15]
	24 October 2005	Flag of Lincolnshirereg	A red cross with yellow trimming on a blue and green field, and a yellow fleur de lys in the middle of the cross.[16]
	1909	Flag of Middlesexreg	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes under a gold Saxon crown.[17]
	7th century (modern form 1951)	Flag of Northumberlandreg coa	Historical flag readopted in 1951 and used officially by the county council, with use permitted to local people. Flies in more than 200 locations across the county.[18] Eight yellow rectangles on a red field, note that the canton (top corner nearest the flagpole) should be gold.[19]
	20 May 2011	Flag of Nottinghamshirereg	The inescutcheon represents Robin Hood
	20 May 2011	Flag of Oxfordshire – Saint Frideswide Cross	A white cross on a blue and green field.
	March 2012 -	Flag of Shropshirereg	The leopards' faces, fondly referred to as loggerheads locally, are a traditional emblem for Shropshire and have historically evolved from the loggerheads on the Shrewsbury town arms. The erminois aspect differentiates the county flag with that of its county town.
	20 May 2011	County flag of Sussexreg	Six gold martlets on blue are the traditional arms of Sussex
	30 September 2011	Flag of Westmorlandreg	A golden heraldic apple tree on white and red bars
	5 June 2007	Flag of Wiltshirereg	Alternating stripes of green and white represent the grassy downs of the county and their chalk underlay. The colours can represent hope, joy and safety (green) and peace (white). In the centre, the male Great Bustard is depicted in gold on a solid green circle to represent the open grassland. The circle is bordered in six sections alternating green and white representing the stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury in the county. The six portions also represent the six surrounding counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset.
	1965 or earlier	County flag of Yorkshirereg	The White Rose of Yorkshire (the traditional county emblem) on a blue field.[20]

Islands

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	14 April 2010	Flag of the Isle of Portlandreg	The colours represent the landscape of the area: Portland stone, grass and the sea. The white tower represents the castles and the naval coronet shows the long connection with the Royal Navy.[21]
	February 2002	Flag of the Isles of Scillyreg	The Scillonian Cross – A white cross on an orange upper field and blue lower field with five white stars in the upper right quarter, 3:5.[22]
	January 2009	Flag of the Isle of Wightreg	A white lozenge with an upper indent or "pile" on a light blue background, over six wavy stripes of blue and white.

Local authority and former local authority flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the former Bedfordshire Council	Red and gold quarters split horizontally by blue and white waves and vertically with a black band containing three white shells. The red and gold quarters are from the arms of the Beauchamps, the leading family in the county after the Norman Conquest. The waves signify the River Ouse, and the shells are from the arms of the Russell Family, commemorating their services to the state and to the county.
		Commercially available Flag of Berkshire	Two blue lions passant (referencing Berkshire's Royal and Norman connections) and a Saxon Crown (referencing Berkshire's formative Saxon history) on a white background.
		Flag of Cambridgeshire Council	Local authority flag. Gold with a red bordure based on the Scottish tressure. The blue wavy pallets represent the many rivers of the County, while the straight pallets are for the drains and dykes that run through the Fenlands.
		Flag of the former Cheshire Council	Local authority flag. A trio of golden wheatsheaves on blue which have been associated with the Earldom of Chester since the late 12th century.
		Flag of Cumbria Council	On the green border are Parnassus flowers (representing Cumberland) interspersed with white roses (Yorkshire) superimposed with red roses (Lancashire). The centre of the shield is made up of segments of blue, white, yellow and green divided by wavy vertical lines and zig-zag horizontal lines. This depicts the new County and from left to right the vertical lines of segments show: blue and white for the sea, blue and yellow (gold) for the lakes and agriculture, green and white for mountains and lakes and green and yellow (gold) for mountains and agriculture.
		Commercially available Flag of Dorset Council	Three red lions passant (referencing Dorset's Royal and Norman connections) and a fleur-de-lys on a white background. Banner of the Dorset Council Arms.
		Flag of Durham Council	Local authority flag. A yellow cross on a blue field with lions rampant in each quarter, the centre of the cross is broken with a white rose and black diamonds on each arm. Flag modified from the arms of the Bishopric of Durham[23]
		Flag of East Riding of Yorkshire Council	Local authority flag based on the coat of arms.
		Flag of East Sussex Council	A variation on the arms attributed to the Kingdom of Sussex.
		Flag of the Greater London Authority	Local authority flag. White field charged with the name London in blue and red.
		Flag of the former Greater Manchester Council	Local authority flag. "Gules, ten Towers three two three two, all within a Bordure embattled Or".
		Flag of Hampshire Council	Local authority flag.
		Flag of Herefordshire Council	Local authority flag. The red field represents the county's red earth. Across this runs a white and blue wave for the River Wye. In chief is a gold lion from the arms of the City of Hereford, and in base is a Herefordshire Bull's head.
	November 2008	Flag of Hertfordshire coa	Against eight blue and white wavy lines, representing the county's rivers, a gold shield bearing a resting deer or hart. (Also used as a county flag.)[24]
		Flag of Leicestershire Council	The flag is divided into four quarters. The first quarter is a cinquefol, or five within a red circle,the second quarter is charged a white lion with two tails on a red ground, the third quarter shows an ermine plume on a red ground and the forth shows a black maunch.[25]
		Flag of the former Merseyside Council	The waves represent the River Mersey; the six golden mural crowns represent the six County Boroughs—Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, Southport, St Helens, and Wallasey—that Merseyside was created from..
		Flag of Norfolk Council	The top part of the flag, shows a lion from the Royal arms of England together with ostrich plumes and coronet referring to the Prince of Wales. This is a very special honour for the County Council, the King, in the Royal Licence, specifically instructs on the design of the arms to be granted "in commemoration of our long residence in Norfolk". This of course refers to Sandringham. The lower part of the flag comprises the arms attributted to Ralph de Gael or Guader, first Earl of Norfolk circa 1069. The ermine may well refer to Brittany as Ralph was Lord of Gael in that Duchy.
	7th century (modern form 1951)	Flag of Northumberland	Historical flag readopted in 1951 and used officially by the county council, with use permitted to local people as a County Flag. Flies in more than 200 locations across the county.[26] Eight yellow rectangles on a red field, note that the canton (top corner nearest the flagpole) should be gold.[27]
		Flag of Nottinghamshire Council	Local authority flag. The wave is for River Trent and the oak tree for Sherwood Forest.
		Flag of Rutland Council	Local authority flag. A green background strewn with golden acorns, surrounding a central golden horseshoe.
		Flag of Somerset Council	Local authority flag. A red dragon on a yellow field, bearing a blue mace – a banner of the county arms.[28]
		Logo flag of South Yorkshire Council	Former local authority flag.
		Former South Yorkshire Council	Flag based on the council's arms.
		Flag of Staffordshire Council	Local authority flag. All the devices on the flag come from arms of various Earls of Stafford. The red chevron on gold was the arms of the de Staffords. It is charged with the family's famous Stafford knot badge.
		Flag of Suffolk Council	Local authority flag. Coat of arms of Suffolk on a gold background. The main charge in the arms is the sun rising over the sea. Suffolk is the most easterly county in England and thus the first to see the sun rise. The open crowns and crossed arrows refer to Bury St. Edmunds and have been widely used in the arms of Suffolk towns and districts.
		Flag of Surrey Council	Local authority flag. Divided into halves, blue and black, with two gold keys representing the Chertsey Abbey, a woolpack on blue and a sprig of oak on black. (a banner of the modern coat of arms of Surrey County Council).
		Flag of the former Tyne and Wear Council	Former local authority flag.
		Flag of Warwickshire Council	Local authority flag. The bear and staff is the famous badge of the Earls of Warwick. The chief is derived from the arms of the Beauchamp family, Earls of Warwick..
		Flag of the former West Midlands Council	Local authority flag. The flag has two dancetty barrulets interlaced to form a W and M representing the initials of "West Midlands".
		Flag of West Sussex Council	Local authority flag. Blue and gold flag with six golden martlets.
		Flag of Worcestershire Council	The arms show a tree bearing black pears. Black pears appear in the arms of the City of Worcester, and as such have long been considered a county badge.

Districts, towns and parishes

Flag	Date	Use	Description
File:Cheshire East Flag.png	2009–	Flag of Cheshire East (Unitary Authority)	The logo of the council displayed on a white banner[29]
File:Dacorum Flag.gif		Flag of the Borough of Dacorum (District, Hertfordshire)	The lesser arms of the borough displayed on a green field.
		Flag of the London Borough of Ealing (Greater London)	White with an oak tree standing on a green mound, the chief consists of three Saxon crowns on a red background.
		Flag of the city of Durham (Charter Trustees, County Durham).	A red cross cross outlined in white on a black field.
		Flag of the City of London (sui generis, Greater London)	A red cross on a white field, with a red sword in the canton.
		Flag of the City and District of St Albans (District, Hertfordshire)	The Cross of St Alban – A gold saltire on a blue field.

Historical flags

National flags and ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	Anglo-Saxon era, has been revived recently by some English nationalists.[30][31]	English Flag	A white dragon on a red background
	1620–1707	English Red Ensign	A red ensign with the Flag of England in the canton
	1620–1707	English White Ensign	A white ensign with the Flag of England in the canton
	1620–1707	English Blue Ensign	A blue ensign with the Flag of England in the canton
	1606–1801	English Union Flag	First Union Flag with the Flag of England overlying the Flag of Scotland

Royal standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1198–1340	Royal Banner of England	A banner of the Royal Arms of England.
	1340–1406	Royal Banner of England, used first by King Edward III	The Coat of Arms of England quartered with the Royal Banner of France, azure, semy of Fleurs-de-lis representing the English claim to the French throne.
	1406–1603	Royal Banner of England as used first by King Henry IV	The arms of France has been changed to have just three fleurs-de-lis, following French practice.

Regions

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1900s –	Flag of East Angliareg	The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty of East Anglia, three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St. George's Cross, 3:5.[32]
	13th Century –	Flag of Mercia	A gold saltire on a blue field (Cross of St Alban); the traditional flag of the Kingdom of Mercia, still flown on Tamworth Castle.
	7th century -	Flag of Northumbriareg coa	The oldest flag in England. Historical flag of Kingdom of Northumbria used officially by Northumberland County Council since 1951.[33]
		Flag of Wessexreg	A gold wyvern on a red field.