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| Use | Civil andstate flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3[1] |
| Adopted | 30 April 1985 |
| Design | A red cross of St George, which reflects the island's constitutional relationship with the English Crown, and a gold cross shown on the banner of William the Conqueror which represents the historic connection with the Duchy of Normandy.[2] |
| Designed by | Herbert Pitt |
| Civil ensign of Guernsey | |
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| Government ensign of Guernsey | |
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| Flag of thegovernor of Guernsey | |
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Theflag of Guernsey was adopted in 1985 and consists of the redSaint George's Cross with an additional goldNorman cross within it. The creation was prompted by confusion at international sporting events over competitors fromGuernsey andEngland using the same flag.[3] It was designed by the Guernsey Flag Investigation Committee led by Deputy BailiffSir Graham Dorey. The flag was first unveiled on the island on 15 February 1985. The gold cross representsWilliam the Bastard,Duke of Normandy (who became, after theNorman Conquest, William I of England). William purportedly was given such a cross byPope Alexander II and flew it on hisstandard in theBattle of Hastings.[4] Since 2000, ared ensign with the cross in the fly has been used as the government'scivil ensign and as ablue ensign.
Prior to 1985, Guernsey had no official unique flag and instead used theSt George's Cross (theflag of England) as its flag when one was officially required. This came about afterKing Edward VIII granted consent for Guernsey to use the flag of England in 1936. During theGerman occupation of the Channel Islands, the residents were prevented from displaying official British symbols, but the flag of England was permitted for civilian use.[5] TheGovernment of Guernsey carried out official studies in 1906 and 1935 to determine any unique and identifiable historical flags that Guernsey could use to represent it.[6] In 1983, theBailiff of Guernsey argued the need for a new flag for Guernsey because of the confusion caused by using the flag of England.[7] The impetus for the flag's creation was confusion at the1982 Commonwealth Games, where Guernsey competed under the flag of England – some other nations' competitors erroneously believed England was entering two teams into the Games.[7]
Research was carried out by Deputy Bailiff SirGraham Dorey, of Guernsey's Flag Investigation Committee. The committee considered a number of designs. It was initially considered that the new flag for Guernsey should contain green, but it was ruled that the colour green has no historical basis in Guernsey aside of being used as a sporting colour by theGuernsey national football team inMuratti matches. Consideration was given to using thecoat of arms of Guernsey on a St George's Cross but this was rejected on the grounds that the arms would be unidentifiable at a distance. It was also decided that to do so would be to focus on English symbols, not recognising Guernsey's independence or Norman history.[6] The committee eventually settled on including a gold cross on top of the St George's Cross. The gold cross was chosen as it was a symbol of KingWilliam the Conqueror, seen on a banner at theBattle of Hastings, as portrayed on theBayeux Tapestry.[6] That banner was purportedly given to William byPope Alexander II as a symbol of his blessing for theNorman Conquest of England along with a request for the clergy of theChurch of England to give way to William.[4] The new flag's design was to symbolise that the islanders were of Norman descent but loyal to the English (and later British) Crown. In 1985Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Normandy, granted aRoyal Warrant for the flag to become the official flag of Guernsey. Unveiled on 15 February 1985, the flag was flown for the first time onLiberation Day on 9 May, the 40th anniversary of theChannel Islands' liberation from German occupation during theSecond World War.[7]
Thereafter, the Guernsey flag was used in theGrosse Rocque ceremony, replacing theUnion Jack, which had traditionally been raised on Grosse Rocque every Augustbank holiday.[8] The flag would then fly on the rock continuously for a year before being replaced with a new one.[9] The flag of Guernsey is flown from all of theStates of Guernsey buildings except ondesignated flag-flying days, when the Union Jack is used instead. These days mostly relate to birthdays and anniversaries of senior members of the Royal Family as well asCommonwealth Day andRemembrance Sunday.[10] The flag is also flown on the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings on all public buildings.[11]
The flag provided inspiration for theflag of Alderney in 1993.[7] It has also inspired other symbols. In 2011, theGuernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service adopted a new logo comprising the Cross of St George and gold Norman cross, butdefaced by theMaltese Cross of theVenerable Order of Saint John based on the Guernsey flag.[12] In November 2012 theBailiwick of Guernsey's St John Ambulance was elevated to a Commandery within the Order dependent on thePriory of England and the Islands in a church service which included granting a new flag from the BritishCollege of Arms including elements of the flag of Guernsey.[13]
The flag is not universally supported. Some Guernsey sports fans complain that the flag lacks Guernsey's sporting colour of green or the crest of Guernsey. In the 2000s, a green and white tribar with the coat of arms of Guernsey in the centre was created by Guernsey sports fans to be used as Guernsey's unofficial sporting flag.[14]
At the same time as the flag of Guernsey was adopted, the Royal Warrant also provided for creation of a Guernseycivil ensign. This was created as a Britishred ensign incorporating the Guernsey gold cross. That was created for Guernsey residents and British subjects as an alternative flag of Guernsey as well as to be used as Guernsey'smerchant ensign.[15] In 2000, the States of Guernsey adopted ablue ensign version of the Guernsey ensign for maritime usage on government vessels.[16]
The previous flag of Guernsey was theSt George's Cross, which Guernsey was permitted to use in 1936 for its state flag. However, there is evidence to suggest the existence of an even earlier Guernsey flag, used in the mid-19th century. This was a St George's cross on a blue-and-white chequered field, with theUnion Flag incanton. Further details of its use and official status remain doubtful, however.[17]
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Media related toFlags of the Bailiwick of Guernsey at Wikimedia Commons| British Overseas Territories |  | |
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