Diplomatic_flag Knowpia

A diplomatic flag is a flag used by a sovereign state engaging in diplomacy which is different from the nation's normal national flag. Some nations also have personal flags that are used by their diplomatic representatives, such as the U.S. Foreign Service flags.^[1]

National diplomatic flags edit

Currently, only two nations use diplomatic flags: Thailand (formerly Siam) and the United Kingdom. Different flags are used based upon the diplomatic rank of the mission. British High Commissions do not use diplomatic flags but rather the normal flag of the United Kingdom, since members of the Commonwealth are not considered 'foreign' by the government of the United Kingdom.^[2]

Thailand edit

Flag used by Thai Embassies
Flag used by Thai Consulates and Consulates-general

United Kingdom edit

Flag used by British Embassies
Flag used by British Consulates and Consulates-general

Historical national diplomatic flags edit

Siam edit

Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1892–1912
Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1892–1912
Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1912–1917
Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1912–1917
Flag used by Siamese Embassies, Consulates and Consulates-general 1917–1927

Sweden and Norway edit

The members of the union between Sweden and Norway each had their own separate national flags, however they also had a flag named the Union mark, which was used as the flag of the common diplomatic representations of both countries abroad.^[3]^[4]

The Union mark

Personal diplomatic and consular flags edit

United Kingdom edit

Flag used by British consular officials when embarked in small boats (flag displayed at bow)
Standard of the governor of Anguilla
Standard of the governor of Bermuda
Standard of the commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
Standard of the governor of the British Virgin Islands
Standard of the governor of the Cayman Islands
Standard of the governor of the Falkland Islands
Standard of the governor of Gibraltar
Standard of the governor of Montserrat
Standard of the governor of the Pitcairn Islands
Standard of the governor of Saint Helena
Standard of the commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Standard of the governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands

United States edit

Flag of the secretary of state
Flag of the deputy secretary of state
Flag of United States ambassadors
Flag of a Foreign Service officer
Flag of a Consular officer

Historical personal diplomatic flags edit

United Kingdom edit

Standard of the governor of Gibraltar (1939–1982)

Yugoslavia edit

The flag for the accredited representatives of the state (diplomats and heads of consular missions) of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was similar to the civil ensign, that is the national flag in 2:3 ratio.^[5]

Diplomatic and consular representatives

References edit

^ Flags of the World: Diplomatic and Consular Flags (U.S.)
^ Berridge, G R; Lloyd, Lorna (2012), The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy (3rd ed.), Palgrave Macmillan, p. 104
^ Anker, C.J. (1888). "Tegninger af Norges flag i dets forskjellige skikkelser gjennem tiden". Kristiania: P.T. Mallings boghandels forlag, pp. 11–12.
^ Colour plate attached to "Cirkulär 18. Oktober 1899" from Kongl. Utrikes Departementet, Stockholm, to the consuls of the United Kingdoms
^ Flags of the World: Socialist Yugoslavia: Naval rank flags (1956–1991) Part 3 – Non-naval dignitary ranks