The historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories refers to the various flags that were used across the various Dominions, Crown colonies, protectorates, and territories which made up the British Empire and overseas territories. Early flags that were used across the Empire (including the then Thirteen Colonies which later became the United States of America) tended to be variations of the Red and Blue Ensigns of Great Britain with no colonial badges or coat of arms attached to them. In the first half of the 19th century, the first colonies started to acquire their own colony badges, but it was not until the UK Parliament passed the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 that the colonies were required to apply their own emblems.
The following list contains all former and current flags that have been used across the Empire and as well as British overseas territories.
Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories
Aden
FlagDateUseDescription 1937–1963 Aden A Blue Ensign defaced with an Arab ship inside a disc
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
FlagDateUseDescription 1960– Akrotiri and Dhekelia The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia have never had their own official flag, and instead use the Union Jack for all official purposes.
Anguilla
FlagDateUseDescription 1967 Anguilla A red flag featuring the name of the island in yellow and two mermaids inside a blue oval. 1967–1969 The 1967–1969 independence flag and is still widely seen and used on the island as an unofficial flag to this day. 1990–1999 A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. 1999– A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. Still currently used as the flag for the island.
Antigua and Barbuda
FlagDateUseDescription 1956–1962 Antigua and Barbuda A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua on a white disc. 1962–1967 A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua. 1967–1981 This flag was adopted in 1967, to mark Antigua and Barbuda gaining Associated State status with the United Kingdom, and remained in use after full independence in 1981.1981–Present
Australia
Note: Australia formally became a country independent from the United Kingdom under the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 which formally adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931 and backdated the adoption to 3 September 1939. FlagDateUseDescription 1901–1903 Australia The original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner. A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5). Australia (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, and 6). 1903–1908 Australia A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points, except the smallest star only had 5 points) as approved by King Edward VII. Australia (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points). 1908– Australia A Blue Ensign defaced with the seven-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half. Still currently used as the national flag of Australia. Australia (Civil Ensign) Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in white. Still currently used as the civil ensign of Australia.
Australian States
FlagDateUseDescription 1876– State of New South Wales A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a Blue Ensign. 1901–1963 State of Queensland A light blue Maltese cross with a Tudor crown on a white background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1963 the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St Edward's Crown. 1876–1904 State of South Australia A Blue Ensign with a round disc in the fly displaying Brittania and an Aboriginal Australian man on a beach beside a cliff face with a kangaroo carving. 1904– A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. 1901– State of Tasmania A red lion on a white background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. 1901–1953 State of Victoria The Southern Cross surmounted by a Tudor crown in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1953 the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St Edward's Crown. 1870–1953 State of Western Australia A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1953 the swan was changed to face the opposite direction.
Bahama Islands FlagDateUseDescription 1869–1904 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc. Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc. 1904–1923 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc. Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc. 1923–1953 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands. Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands. 1953–1964 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands. Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands. 1964–1973 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands. Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
Bahrain FlagDateUseDescription 1820–1932 Bahrain Protectorate A plain red with a white bar at the hoist. 1932–1972 A white band on the left, separated from a red area on the right by twenty-eight triangles that serve as a serrated line.
Barbados FlagDateUseDescription 1870–1966 Barbados A Blue Ensign with the emblem of Barbados. Barbados (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign with the emblem of Barbados.
Basutoland FlagDateUseDescription 1822–1966 Basutoland Flag of the United Kingdom. 1951–1966 Basutoland (Unofficial) A Blue Ensign with the arms of Basutoland in a white disc.
Bechuanaland Protectorate FlagDateUseDescription 1885–1966 Bechuanaland Protectorate Flag of the United Kingdom.
Bermuda FlagDateUseDescription 1875–1910 Bermuda A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of Bermuda. 1910–1999 A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Bermuda. Bermuda (Government Ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Bermuda.
British America FlagDateUseDescription Until 1801 (Canada) British America, part of what is now Canada and the United States A Red Ensign with the first version of the Union Jack in the canton (formed as a square). Also known as the Queen Anne Flag and amended to form the Continental Colours of the United States in 1775.Until 1776 (US, de facto)Until 1783 (US, de jure)
British Antarctic Territory FlagDateUseDescription 1963– British Antarctic Territory A defaced White Ensign with the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. 1969– British Antarctic Territory (Government Ensign) A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory.
British Cameroon
FlagDateUseDescription 1922–1961 British Cameroons A Blue Ensign defaced with the words 'British Cameroon' surrounding bananas, all inside a white disc.
British Central Africa Protectorate FlagDateUseDescription 1893–1907 British Central Africa Protectorate A Blue Ensign with an emblem of the British Central Africa Protectorate.
British Ceylon
FlagDateUseDescription 1875–1948 Ceylon A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Ceylon. Ceylon (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Ceylon.
British Columbia Colony
FlagDateUseDescription 1866–1871 British Columbia Colony A Blue Ensign defaced with the seal of the Colony, all inside a white disc.
British East Africa FlagDateUseDescription 1888–1895 British East Africa Company A Union Jack with the logo of the British East Africa Company in the centre. 1895–1921 East Africa Protectorate A Blue Ensign defaced with an emblem of British East Africa. East Africa Protectorate (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with an emblem of British East Africa.
British Guiana
FlagDateUseDescription 1875–1906 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana. 1906–1919 A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana inside a white disc. British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana inside a white disc. 1919–1954 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana. British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana. 1955–1966 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Guiana inside a white disc. British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Guiana inside a white disc.
British Hong Kong
FlagDateUseDescription 1870–1876 British Hong Kong A Blue Ensign defaced with the letters HK and a royal crown in a white disc. 1876–1941 A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial badge of Hong Kong.1945–1955 1955–1959 1959–1997 A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Hong Kong in a white disc.
British Honduras
FlagDateUseDescription 1870–1919 British Honduras A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras inside a white disc. British Honduras (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras inside a white disc. 1919–1981 British Honduras A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras. British Honduras (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras.
British India
FlagDateUseDescription 1733–1801 East India Company A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of Great Britain in the canton. 1801–1858 A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of the United Kingdom in the canton. 1858–1947 British India Flag of the United Kingdom. 1880–1947 British India (Red Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Order of the Star of India. 1885–1947 British India (Standard of the viceroy) A Union Jack with the Star of India in the center, surmounted by the Tudor Crown. Used at various International events to represent Imperial India. 1879–1947 British India (Blue Ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with the Star of India, used as the naval flag.
British Indian Ocean Territory
FlagDateUseDescription 1990 British Indian Ocean Territory A defaced Union Jack with blue wavy stripes with a palm tree with a gold crown on the stump. A defaced Union Jack with blue wavy stripes with a palm tree with a gold and red crown on the stump.
British Leeward Islands
FlagDateUseDescription 1871–1952 British Leeward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly. British Leeward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly. 1952–1958 British Leeward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly. British Leeward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.
British New Hebrides
FlagDateUseDescription 1906–1952 British New Hebrides A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British New Hebrides. 1952–1980 1966–1980 New Hebrides Condominium The New Hebrides Condominium used several flags that features the flags of both the United Kingdom and France, this version has sky blue field.
British Malaya