Royal Banner Of Scotland

Right. Let's get this over with. You want to know about the Royal Banner of Scotland. It’s a piece of fabric with a lion on it. Impressive. Don't expect me to wax poetic.

Banner design used in Scotland

"The Lion Rampant" and "The Royal Standard of Scotland" redirect here. For other uses, see Lion rampant. For the Scottish variant of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, see Royal Standard of the United Kingdom.

This is the royal banner, the one that screams "royalty" in Scotland. Not the everyday flag, mind you, that’s the Saltire – the one that looks like a drunk’s attempt at a cross. This banner, the Royal Banner of Scotland, is a bit more… exclusive. Officially, only a select few, the Great Officers of State, get to wave it around when they’re trying to look like they represent the Monarchy. And when the Head of State isn't around, it shows up at royal residences. Apparently, even empty castles need a bit of pomp.

Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland

Lion Rampant of Scotland
Royal Banner of Scotland
Royal Standard of Scotland
Banner of the King of Scots

This is the official nomenclature. Like calling a beat-up car a "pre-owned personal transport unit." It’s still a car, and this is still a flag. A rather specific one, at that.

Proportion

House banner is 5:4 ratio
Mass-produced renditions tend towards 1:2 or 2:3 ratio

So, the "official" size is a bit odd. 5:4. Most people just make them whatever size they feel like, though. Typical.

Adopted

13th century

This thing has been around. Since the 13th century. Imagine the history. Or don't. It’s probably dull.

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.

Let's break this down, shall we? The background is yellow. Like faded gold. On it, a red lion. Standing up, like it's about to pounce. Or maybe just stretch. Its claws and tongue are blue. Because red on red is apparently too subtle. And then there’s this border, double-lined, with little flower things on it. Lilies, they call them. Fleur-de-lis. Fancy. It’s all very… heraldic. Which means it’s complicated and probably has rules nobody remembers.

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This is just administrative clutter. Ignore it. Unless you’re into that sort of thing.

History

A rather exhaustive list of historical periods. You can get lost in there if you have too much time. Which, frankly, I suspect you do.

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Symbols

This whole section is just a massive index of things Scottish. It’s like a catalogue for a country. Useful if you’re lost, I suppose.

The earliest mention of the Lion Rampant as a royal emblem is from Alexander II in 1222. That's a long time ago. The double border with lilies? That showed up under Alexander III. This lion business was on the royal coat of arms, and then on banners, until 1603. That's when James VI became king of England and Ireland too. Now, the lion’s still around, but it’s mixed in with the other royal stuff in the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. It’s still a recognizable symbol, even if its official use is… complicated.

Design

Royal Banner being flown above Holyrood Palace

So, the design. Yellow background. Red lion. Blue claws and tongue. Double border with little flowers. It's formally described as: Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counter-flory of the second. It’s a mouthful, isn't it? Basically, gold field, red lion, blue bits, fancy border.

The house banner is 5:4. But if you’re buying one off the shelf, expect 1:2 or 2:3. They don't all follow the rules, do they?

History

Reverse of Alexander II's Great Seal, displaying the Lion rampant on saddle and shield.

The lion emblem has a history stretching back to Malcolm III, with David I using it. Alexander II had it on his Great Seal. It’s said to have roots going back to Irish clans with lineage to Malcolm III, specifically the red lion linked to the descendants of Érimón.

There was an earlier royal standard, apparently featuring a dragon, used by David I at the Battle of the Standard in 1138. And Robert the Bruce probably wore a surcoat with the Royal Red Lion Rampant at Bannockburn in 1314. A [citation needed] for that. Predictable.

After the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Scottish royal banner got integrated into the royal standards. It's been quartered into the standards ever since, representing Scotland. For the version used in Scotland, it’s in the first and fourth quarters. Elsewhere, it’s just the second. Quaint.

Protocol

The Royal Banner of Scotland flying above Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.

Use at royal residences

It flies at Holyroodhouse and Balmoral Castle when the King isn't there. When he is, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom takes precedence. Of course.

Use by representatives of the Monarchy

It’s not just for the monarch, apparently. Scottish heraldry has its own way of doing things. The First Minister of Scotland (as Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland), Lord Lieutenants in their areas, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and other specially appointed people can use it. They're the monarch's official stand-ins. How thrilling.

Use by the Heir Apparent

The heir apparent, the Duke of Rothesay, gets a variation of the banner. It has a blue label with three points on it. Charles III had the same on his personal banner before he became King. A little mark of distinction. Or a target.

Legal status

This banner is protected. By acts of the Parliament of Scotland and the Lyon King of Arms Act 1867. Using it without permission is an offense. Someone named Denis Pamphilon was fined for putting it on bedspreads. Rangers F.C. and the Scottish National Party also got told off by the Court of the Lord Lyon for unauthorized use. Still, you see it on souvenirs. Because rules are for other people, apparently.

In 1934, George V allowed its use during the Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1935. But only for hand-held flags, for "decorative ebullition." Not for flagpoles. It's still used that way at state occasions and sporting events, though the former Lord Lyon thought that wasn't the original intention. So, a bit of a loophole, then.

Appearance in other royal flags

It's part of the Duke of Rothesay's standard, and the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. It also shows up in the Royal standards of Canada, alongside the arms of Canada, which represent England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. A rather international lion, wouldn't you say?

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

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

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used beyond Scotland, featuring the Royal Banner of Scotland in the second quarter.

The Sovereign’s Flag for Canada: a field quartered by the royal banners of England, Scotland, Ireland and France. The base shows a sprig of three red maple leaves.

Gallery

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland and (clockwise) those of the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Anne, Princess Royal (Scottish variant) and Duke of Rothesay, displayed in St Giles's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, featuring the Royal Banner of Scotland in the first and fourth quarters, flying over the Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh.

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used outside of Scotland, featuring the Royal Banner of Scotland in the second quarter, flying over Buckingham Palace, London.

The Sovereign's Flag of Canada flies outside Government House in Halifax to mark the Coronation of Charles III. The Royal Banner of Scotland features in the quartered coat contained in the first and second divisions.

The Royal Banner of Scotland, flying over Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire.

National Flag of Scotland

The Saltire

Main article: Flag of Scotland

This is the actual flag of Scotland. The Saltire. The St Andrew's Cross. It's flown daily from government buildings, unless it's a special day for the UK.