Flag of Monaco

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Categories: National symbols of Monaco | National flags

¹ Flag ratio: 4:5 (or 2:3); adopted 4 April 1881

The national flag of Monaco has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white. It is similar to the flag of Indonesia, which is longer, and to the flag of Poland in distress (upside down). Red and white have been the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi since 1339 at least, but the design of the flag has changed with time.

Monaco's original flag, which was similar to its current State Flag but bore an older version of its coat of arms, was in use from the principality's early days (except during its annexation to France from 1793 to 1814) until the present, simpler design was adopted on April 4, 1881.

Another design (below), the banner of the state arms (lozenges in the Grimaldi family colors, in heraldic terms "lozengy argent and gules"), was used at various times, particularly in the 1600s, as an unofficial flag, and still appears in some royal photographs; however, it has no designated use, and does not represent any Monegasque official in particular.

1 State flag
2 Princely standard
3 Notes
4 References

State flag

Image:Flag of Monaco (state).svg

The state flag of Monaco

Monaco's state flag, which consists of the full achievement of the coat of arms on a white background, is flown at government offices, the Prince's palace, in the presence of government officials, and as an ensign on the Prince's yacht.

Image:Personal Standard of Prince Albert II of Monaco.png

The standard of Prince Albert II

Princely standard

The princely standard, which consisted of the Crown of Monaco over two opposing letters A on a white background, was the personal flag of Prince Albert II, and was only used in his immediate presence, particularly on cars in which he traveled. It was often seen with a gold fringe on the top, bottom, and right, which is one-ninth the height of the white field.

Image:Lozenge flag of Monaco.svg

Miscellaneous occasions, 17th century to present

Notes

Sources disagree as to the flag's usage. According to Flags of the World it is ; according to the World Flag Database it is Image:FIAV 100110.svg; and according to Whitney Smith's Flags Through the Ages and Across the World (1975), it is .

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Flags of Monaco

Explanation of the use of Monaco's various flags
World Flag Database Monaco's flags at the World Flag Database

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