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Flags of Individuals
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| Flags
belonging to individuals are extremely uncommon in this day and
age. Historically, these flags were in fact banners or standard
which represented knights in battle, during a far earlier period
in history. The flag or standard was a rallying point, which
identified the knight or commander while engaging the enemy at
close quarter. Later, during the Napoleonic Era, the flags
represented the regiment or its commander. |
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| For
example: |
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- The Royal Standard of Her
Majesty the Queen. This standard shows the arms of the
Sovereign, that is - quarterly, 1st and 4th, gules (red)
three lions passant or (gold), in the 2nd quarter, the arms
of Scotland (or, a lion rampant gules, in a brodure of
fleur-de-lys), in the 3rd quarter, azure (blue) a harp or
(gold, stringed argent (silver). The three gold lions on a
red field in the 1st and 4th quarters represent England (and
Wales), the arms of Scotland represent Scotland, and the
harp represents Ireland (or, more correctly, Northern
Ireland). The arms change only with the addition of change
to the Kingdom and its dominion. The arms remain unchanged
on the death of a Sovereign. The Royal Standard is never
half-masted, as on the death of the Sovereign, the heir
apparent immediately ascends the throne and inherits the
Royal Arms.
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- The Standard of the
Governor General of Canada. The standard is the crest
from the coat of arms for Canada - 'on a wreath, argent
(silver) and gules (red), a lion passant guardant, or (gold)
crown imperially, a maple leaf (gules) in the dexter paw' -
all on a blue background.
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| Nowadays,
flags of individuals include the Royal Standard of Her Majesty
the Queen, or of other members of the Royal Family, as well as
Chiefs of Scottish Clans, Clan Lairds, Governors,
Governor-General, Lieutenant-Governors, as well as members of
the British peerage, and those entitled to bear arms. |
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purpose of a personal flag or banner is to locate and identify
its owner. Flown over his house, it identifies his property.
Flown elsewhere, it indicates his presence. Normally, a heraldic
house flag is square in shape, and large enough to be identified
from a distance. |
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| Any
individual may have a personal flag, pendant, standard,
gonfalon, or banner. However, in some places, the use and public
display of such are matters regulated by statute. In Scotland in
particular, the Lord Lyon must grant letters patent permitting
the display of some personal flags. |
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