Tag Archives | United Kingdom

Chief Vexillologist on Voice of Russia panel

In a current and very interesting Voice of Russia broadcast on Tuesday, 11 March 2014, Flag Institute Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram, joined host Brendan Cole on a discussion panel also including: Liam Clarke, Political editor of the Belfast Telegraph; David Vines White, the Somerset Herald from the College of Arms in London; Professor Paul Ward, […]

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Union Flag or Union Jack? The answer

Controversy persists about whether the British national flag should be called “the Union Flag” or “the Union Jack”. Though the general public almost universally uses “Union Jack”, some are convinced that “Union Flag” is the correct term and that “Union Jack” should be used only when the flag is flown from the jack-staff in the […]

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FI President on BBC World Service & CBBC Newsround

The Flag Institute is an educational charity, and we work hard to spread knowledge and understanding of flags to all age-groups. For that reason we are especially pleased to have been featured on CBBC’s Newsround this week.  On Tuesday FI President, Malcolm Farrow, somehow managed to make flags sound appealing to CBBC youngsters, the international […]

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“We are not encouraging a change to the flag”

Source: The Atlantic The Flag Institute, the U.K.’s national flag charity and the largest membership-based vexillological organization in the world, recently polled its members and found that nearly 65 percent of respondents felt the Union Jack should be changed if Scotland becomes independent. And after the poll, the organization found itself flooded with suggested replacements […]

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BBC ‘deluged’ with designs in Flag Institute-inspired debate

Following the national conversation kick-started by the Flag Institute this week on what might happen to the flag of the United Kingdom in the event of Scottish independence, the BBC have admitted that they have since been ‘deluged’ by flag designs submitted by members of the public. Whilst some of the designs were – inevitably […]

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Symbols of sovereignty: the National Flag

President of the Flag Institute, Captain Malcolm Farrow OBE RN, has released his recent paper looking at UK symbols of sovereignty. “Like every other nation, the United Kingdom has a range of national symbols signifying sovereignty on land, at sea and in the air. Because of our long and complex history, the UK quite possibly has […]

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65% think the Union Flag should change if Scotland leaves

Almost 65% of people responding to a recent Flag Institute survey think the Union Flag SHOULD change if Scotland becomes independent. The Scottish Government intends to hold a referendum of the Scottish electorate, on the issue of independence from the United Kingdom, on Thursday 18 September 2014. The question asked in the referendum will be “Should Scotland be […]

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A very ‘flaggy’ 2012

The year 2012  was a real vexillologist’s dream. The Jubilee processions, parties and parades, not to mention the London 2012 Olympic events were all very rich in flag displays. Below are a just a few of the flags spotted during 2012.  

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Freedom to fly flags

Mr Pickles unveiling his proposals at the Flag Institute Spring Meeting in 2011 The following press release is the official Flag Institute response to the announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Government on the relaxation of UK flag regulations on 20 September 2012:   The United Kingdom is Unique The UK is perhaps […]

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Parliament Square flags

The flags of the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories flying in Parliament Square on the occasion of the State Visit of the President of Indonesia. This is the first time these flags have ever been flown as a coordinated group in the United Kingdom and a stirring sight they are. 21 flags were flown with […]

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