UK Flag Registry
The Flag Institute maintains and manages the national registry of United Kingdom flags. This is to ensure there is a definitive record of those which exist both nationally and regionally. There is of course no UK Flag Act, under the authority of which such flags might have been endorsed, and it therefore falls to the Flag Institute to maintain the formal record.
National flags for the constituent countries of the UK are well established, even if not declared in law to be national flags, whilst the range of county and regional flags continues to expand as can be seen by the dates of authorisation given for the more recent ones listed. There is no other formal national listing of these flags.
As new county or regional flags are created they will be added to the list once they have satisfied the strict criteria laid down. If a flag in common use is not listed here please contact the Chief Vexillologist. To find out more about the criteria for registration please see the section on Registry criteria.
Click the Return to Registry link to see the list of flags again.
Hertfordshire
| Flag Type: | County Flag |
|---|---|
| Flag Date: | 19th November 2008 |
| Adoption Route: | Local Council |
| Designer: | College of Arms |
| UK Design Code: | UNKG7417 |
| Aspect Ratio: | 3:5 |
| Pantone Colours: | Blue 300, White, Yellow 116, Brown 70% 1405 |
| Certification: | Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram |
| Notes: | Hertfordshire County Council, under the leadership of Robert Gordon, passed a resolution on 19th November 2008: "This Council has, for the better representation of the County of Hertfordshire and its people, decided that the banner of the County COuncil's arms, namely 'Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent an Inescutcheon Or charged with a Hart lodged proper' is a fitting and proper emblem for the county and its people and will from this day be the County flag of Hertfordshire. The use of the full achievement of arms, with supporters and mural crown as a crest, is still restricted to the County Council and those specifically authorised by it." |
Criteria for inclusion in the Flag Registry
The Flag Institute had drawn up a list of criteria for flags to be included in the new Flag Registry:
- The design must be unique within the UK, ie. no other UK area or organisation is using the design
- The design must be in the public domain, ie. not subject to copyright
- In the case of county flags, the flag must normally apply to a historical county rather than a modern administrative area
- The flag must be one of the following: registered with the College of Arms; registered with the Office of the Lord Lyon; the traditional flag; selected by a public vote; or selected by an appropriate county or city organisation
Note: All Scottish flags must, by law, be authorized by Lord Lyon and recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.
Further reading
Civic Flag Design Guidelines, from the Flag Institute
British Flags
The Institute's first book, and the most comprehensive book on British flags for the last eighty years, is available to order online.
