Royal Standard of the United Kingdom

In England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories, the flag is divided into four quadrants.

The first and fourth quadrants represent the ancient Kingdom of England and contain three gold lions (or "leopards"), passant guardant on a red field; the second quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Scotland and contains a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Ireland and contains a version of the gold harp from the coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field.

[3] The modern Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, apart from minor changes (notably to the form of harp used to represent Ireland), dates to the reign of Queen Victoria.

The third quadrant, displaying the gold harp of Ireland, remains unaltered from that version used throughout the remainder of the United Kingdom and overseas.

[4] Other members of the royal family also use this Scottish version when in Scotland, with the only exceptions to this protocol being the consort of a queen regnant and the heir apparent, the Duke of Rothesay, each of whom has his own individual standard.

The direct heir to the Throne has several distinct standards and banners for use throughout the United Kingdom in representation of this position.

Traditionally all princes and princesses of royal blood (i.e., descendants of the sovereign) are granted arms on their 18th birthday, thus giving them a banner to fly from their residences.

The first quarter, representing Denmark, consists of three blue lions passant and nine red hearts on a yellow field.

The third quarter, representing the duke's surname, Mountbatten, contains five black and white vertical stripes.

She received a grant of arms on 17 July 2005, which, based on past practice, could form the basis for her own standard.

The Royal Standard is also flown from aircraft and water vessels, including HMY Britannia and MV Spirit of Chartwell[18] during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

In some situations, personal standards are displayed within the UK, such as within St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh (site of the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle), and St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle home of Banners of Knights of the Order of the Garter,[21][22][23] at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant Prince Andrew's standard flew from MV Havengore.

Prior to his accession, the then-Prince of Wales flew his standard at Clarence House in the same way the Royal Standard is used over Buckingham Palace, but other members of the family tend not to fly theirs from their respective residences (though this may be due to the fact that many share official London Residences, as is the case at Kensington Palace).