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Royal Standard of Scotland

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"The Lion Rampant" redirects here. For other uses, see Lion rampant.

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See also: Flag of Scotland
Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland
Royal Banner of Scotland.svg
Name Royal Standard of Scotland
Lion Rampant of Scotland
Banner of the King of Scots
Proportion House banner is 5:4 ratio
Mass-produced renditions tend towards 1:2 or 2:3 ratio
Adopted 12th century
Design Red (Gules) lion rampant with blue (Azure) claws and tongue, within a red double border having a motif of alternating heraldic lilies, on a yellow (Or) field.

The Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland,[1] also known as the Royal Banner of Scotland,[2] or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland,[3] and historically as the Royal Standard of Scotland, (Scottish Gaelic: Bratach rìoghail na h-Alba, Scots: Ryal banner o Scotland ) or Banner of the King of Scots,[4] is the Royal Banner of Scotland, and historically, the Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Scotland.[5] Used historically by the King of Scots, the banner differs from Scotland's national flag, the Saltire, in that its correct use is restricted by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland to only a few Great Officers of State who officially represent the Sovereign in Scotland.[5] It is also used in an official capacity at royal residences in Scotland when the Sovereign is not present.[6]

The earliest recorded use of the Lion rampant as a royal emblem in Scotland was by Alexander II in 1222;[7] with the additional embellishment of a double border set with lilies occurring during the reign of Alexander III (1249–1286).[7] This emblem occupied the shield of the royal coat of arms of the ancient Kingdom of Scotland which, together with a royal banner displaying the same, was used by the King of Scots until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when James VI acceded to the thrones of the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Ireland.[8] Since 1603, the Lion rampant of Scotland has been incorporated into both the royal arms and royal banners of successive Scottish then British monarchs in order to symbolise Scotland; as can be seen today in the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom.[9] Although now officially restricted to use by representatives of the Sovereign and at royal residences, the Royal Banner continues to be one of Scotland's most recognisable symbols.[10]

Design

File:Royal Standard of Scotland, Holyrood Palace.JPG
Royal Banner being flown above Holyrood Palace

Displaying a red lion rampant, with blue tongue and claws, within a red double border on a yellow background, the design of the Royal Banner of Scotland is formally specified in heraldry as: Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counter-flory of the second,[11] meaning: A gold (Or) background, whose principal symbol is a red (Gules) upright lion (lion rampant) with blue (Azure) claws and tongue (armed and langued), surrounded by a two-lined border (tressure) decorated with opposing pairs of floral symbols (flory counter-flory) of the second colour specified in the blazon (Gules). Used as a house flag, its proportions are 5:4;[12] however, flag manufacturers themselves may also adopt alternative ratios, including 1:2 or 2:3.[13]

History

Reverse side of the circular seal used by Alexander the Second, showing the King, in full armour, seated on horseback. The upright Lion symbol is shown upon both the saddle and the shield held by the King.
Reverse of Alexander II's Great Seal, displaying the Lion rampant on saddle and shield.

The Lion rampant was legally used by King William I of Scotland as the great grandson of King Malcolm III Canmore. The Lion Rampant has been used as a heraldic symbol by Royal descendants of Malcolm III beginning with King David I of Scotland The Great Seal was also used by his 2nd great-grandson, Alexander II (1214–1249).[7] Its use in Scotland originated during the reign of Malcolm III (1058–1093), The Lion rampant motif is also used as a badge by those Irish clans who has lineage in common with Malcolm III. They are linked to the legendary Milesian genealogies.[14][15] An earlier recorded Scottish royal standard featured a dragon, which was used at the Battle of the Standard in 1138 by David I (1124–1153).[16]

Following the Union of the Crowns of England, Ireland and Scotland in 1603, the Royal Standard of Scotland was incorporated into the royal standards of successive Scottish then, following the Acts of Union in 1707, British monarchs; with all such royal standards being quartered to include the banner of the arms of each individual realm. Since 1603, the Royal Banner of Scotland has appeared in both the first and fourth quarters of the quartered royal standard used in Scotland, while appearing only in the second quarter of that version used elsewhere.[6]

Protocol

Use at royal residences

View of the Palace of Holyrood House showing the Royal Banner of Scotland flying from the rooftop flagpole, indicating that Her Majesty the Queen is not in residence.
The Royal Banner of Scotland flying above Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.

The Royal Banner of Scotland is used officially at the Scottish royal residences of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, and Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, when The Queen is not in residence. The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland is flown when the Sovereign is present.[6]

Use by representatives of the Sovereign

In the tradition of Scottish heraldry, use of the Royal Standard of Scotland is not restricted to the Sovereign.[17] Several Great Officers of State who officially represent the Sovereign in Scotland are permitted to use the Royal Banner of Scotland, including; the First Minister of Scotland (as Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland), Lord Lieutenants within their respective Lieutenancies, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and other lieutenants who may be specially appointed by the Sovereign.[5]

Use by the Heir Apparent

A variation of the Royal Standard of Scotland is used by the heir apparent to the King of Scots, the Duke of Rothesay, whose standard is the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with an Azure coloured plain label of three points.[18] The personal banner of the current Duke, Prince Charles, also features the same, displayed upon an inner shield.[19]

Legal status

As the personal banner of the Sovereign, use of the Royal Banner of Scotland is restricted under the Act of the Parliament of Scotland 1672 cap. 47 and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17, and any unauthorised use of such is an offence under the Act.[5] In 1978 a St Albans linen merchant, Denis Pamphilon, was fined £100 daily for usurpation of the banner on decorative bedspreads until he desisted, and both Rangers F.C. and the Scottish National Party have been admonished by the Court of the Lord Lyon for their improper and non-authorised use of the banner.[20] Despite such action, the flag continues to feature on a variety of merchandise and souvenirs produced commercially for Scotland's economically important tourism industry.[21][22]

In 1934, George V issued a Royal Warrant authorising use of the Royal Banner of Scotland during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, due to take place the following year. However, such use was restricted to hand-held flags for "decorative ebullition" as a mark of loyalty to the Sovereign; the banner was not to be flown from flagpoles or public buildings.[23][24] The use of hand-held flags at state occasions, such as the opening of the Scottish Parliament,[25] and at sporting events,[26] continues to be authorised by this Royal Warrant, although according to former Lord Lyon Robin Blair, in an interview given to the Sunday Post in November 2007, such use at sporting events "was not envisaged in 1935".[27]

Appearance in other Royal Standards

As well as forming the basis of the standard of the Duke of Rothesay,[28] the Royal Standard of Scotland has since 1603 been a component of what is now styled the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom; both that version used exclusively in Scotland and that used elsewhere. It similarly appears in the Royal Standard of Canada,[29] with the arms of Canada reflecting the royal symbols of England, Scotland, Ireland and France.[30]

  • Duke of Rothesay Standard.svg

    The Standard of the Duke of Rothesay, viz the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with a plain label of three points Azure.

  • The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, featuring the Royal Standard of Scotland in the first and fourth quarters.

  • The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used outwith Scotland, featuring the Royal Standard of Scotland in the second quarter.

  • The Royal Standard of Canada, featuring the Royal Standard of Scotland in the quartered coat contained in the first and second divisions.

Gallery

National Flag of Scotland

The Saltire, the national flag of Scotland; a white x shaped cross on a blue background.
The Saltire.

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Main article: Flag of Scotland

The Flag of Scotland, also known as the Saint Andrew's Cross or more commonly The Saltire, is the national flag of Scotland.[31] The Saltire is the correct flag for all individuals and corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both their loyalty and Scottish nationality.[32] It is also, where possible, flown from Scottish Government buildings every day from 8am until sunset, with certain exceptions; for example United Kingdom National Days.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/TheRoyalBanneroftheRoyalArmsofScotland.aspx
  2. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=8SjtPuppLtYC&pg=PA404
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Google Books
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Google Books
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. At Google Book Search
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Google Books
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Google Books
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. At Google Book Search
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Google Books
  24. ↑ House of Commons Debates 24 Nov 1936.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. At Google Books
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

External image
image icon Standard of the Duke of Rothesay, together with the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, hanging in the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle, St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. 2008-07-21. By Beery. Accessed 2009-12-16

de:Flagge Schottlands

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