![[Flag (Gibraltar]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgi.gif)
image byZoltan Horvath, 6 June 2024
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Gibraltar has the same status asBermuda, theFalkland Islands etc.: they used to be calledCrown Colonies, but are nowBritish Overseas Territories. Gibraltar was never a Dominion; that is an almost term that used to be used in general for independent countries in theCommonwealth that retained the British monarch as Head of State. I think that onlyCanada has retained that title as such. TheIsle of Man has a different constitutional relationship with the UK and is known as aCrown Dependency.
David Prothero &Jim Watt, 2 April 2010
Wikipedia says: "Gibraltar's National Day commemorates the 1967 referendum when the people of Gibraltar voted to reject Spanish annexation by a massive majority. It is celebrated annually on September 10. The day is a public holiday, during which most Gibraltarians dress in the national colours of red and white and among other events, attend a rally. The rally culminates with the release of 30,000 red and white balloons representing the people of Gibraltar." See also an old (2002) BBCnews story.
André Coutanche, 27 September 2007
Description
Quoting thewebsite of the Government of Gibraltar:
The flag of Gibraltar is an elongated banner of thearms of Gibraltar, granted by Royal Warrant Queen Isabella of Castille on the 10th July 1502.
"An escutcheon on which the upper two thirds shall be a white field and on the said field set a red castle, and below the said castle, on the other third of the escutcheon, which must be a red field in which there must be a white line between the castle and the said red field, there shall be a golden key which hangs by a chain from the said castle, as are here figured."
Ivan Sache, 1 July 2015
Gibraltar has a banner which shows the arms of the colony and is used as the colony's flag. The flag is white with a red stripe at the bottom with a three-towered, two-tiered red castle in the white section. Each tower has a door and a window and from the door of the middle tower hangs a gold key which mainly overlaps the red stripe.
Graham Bartram, 27 September 1996
According to notes byWilliam Crampton, this flag was officially introduced in 1966, but had been in traditional use "for as long as anyone could remember". It was formally established on the 8 November 1982 "for internal purposes and for continued use abroad, together with the Union Flag, on appropriate occasions when the specific identity of Gibraltar is being represented".Beforehand, the flag of Gibraltar was theblue ensign of the colony.
Christopher Southworth &Martin Grieve, 3 April 2005
![[Flag]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgi'.gif)
image byMartin Grieve, 5 January 2012, based on an official model supplied byPeter Canessa (Tercentenary Events Director, Government of Gibraltar)
Gibraltar Flag & Crest Colour Guides
Four-colour process (CMYK, %)Red: 0 100 100 0Amber: 0 41 89 0Black: 0 0 0 100
Pantone coloursRed: 485 CAmber: 143 CBlack: Process Black CRGB / screen coloursRed: 255 0 0Amber: 255 150 28Black: 0 0 0
Peter Canessa (Tercentenary Events Director, Government of Gibraltar), 17 November 2003
Interestingly enough, the image sent by Mr Canessa almost exactly matches the castle and key as shown in the Schedule (Article 2) attached to theMerchant Shipping (Gibraltar Colours) Order - No. 281 - effective 19 March 1996.
I think we may safely assume that the current simplified castle as shown on the official model (that is with no stonework and upright walls) was based upon that of theCivil Ensign, which was in part firmly rooted in the grant of 1502. The officially recommended shade of red for all British flags is 186C, and I would suggest that this should be followed for Gibraltar. For the flags of UK Dependent Territories, I would suggest the British recommended shades of red and blue - red PMS 186C and blue PMS 280C - there are no recommendations for the arms.
Christopher Southworth, 4 March 2005
Government of Gibraltar website had a page about national symbols:https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/national-symbols
Please note that this flag illustration shows a very detailed version of red castle.
Images of flag:
https://gibraltarinfo.gi/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Gibraltar-Flag-post.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/gibraltar-flag.html
And there is an interesting change relating flags in this territory, that Gibraltar switched the EU flag for Commonwealth flag after Brexit.
https://en.mercopress.com/2017/05/24/gibraltar-will-switch-the-eu-flag-for-commonwealth-flag-after-brexit
Zoltan Horvath, 6 June 2024
Other sources for colors:
The Olympic Flag Manuals are not relevant in case of Gibraltar, because it is not member of IOC.
The French Navy Books illustrate the flag of the city, the government ensign, the civil ensign and governor�s flag, but don�t give any color specification.
Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone system: PMS White, PMS 485C (red), PMS Black, and PMS 143C (gold).
Wikipedia illustrates the flags and ensigns, but doesn�t give any color specification.
Flag Color Codes gives the following color values:
Red: Hex. # DA000c, RGB 218-0-12, CMYK 0-100-95-15, Pantone 2347 C, RAL 3020
Gold: Hex. # F8D80E, RGB 248-216-14, CMYK 0-13-94-3, Pantone 108 C, RAL 1018
White: Hex. # FFF FFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0, Pantone N/A, RAL N/A
Zoltan Horvath, 6 June 2024
![[Coat of arms]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgi).gif)
Coat of arms of Gibraltar - Image provided byPeter Canessa (Tercentenary Events Director, Government of Gibraltar), 17 November 2003
Argent, upon a base Gules a castle triple-towered of the same ported and windowed Sable with a
cord issuant from the portal pendant therefrom a key Or, all within a bordure also Or.
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 October 2024
Quoting thewebsite of the Government of Gibraltar:
Arms consisting of a triple-towered castle with a golden key in the centre were granted to "The Most Loyal City of Gibraltar" by Ferdinand and Isabella in the year 1502. The original grant on vellum is now in the archives of the Municipality of San Roque.
The words usually found underneath the arms are "Montis Insignia Calpe", meaning "Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar", the same words that appear on the Colours of the Suffolk Regiment, which obtained permission to have the Arms of Gibraltar inscribed on their colours, in recognition of the gallant part they played in the Siege of Gibraltar. The words "Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti" meaning "Conquered By No Enemy" also occasionally appear under the Arms of Gibraltar.In 1875, a copy of an Admiralty Flag Book was forwarded to all colonies with an enquiry as to whether the devices shown in the centre of the flags were correct. It was stated in the same despatch that in those colours where badges for flags had been approved, no objection would be offered to their continued use, but it was hoped that the first opportunity would be taken of adopting the device on the seal. The reply to this despatch was to the effect that the badge for the Union Jack shown in the flag book was correct, but that it differed from the device on the seal of the colony and that the earliest opportunity of adopting the latter device would be taken.
The origin of the device on the Seal of the Colony, which consists of a picture of the Rock with a sailing ship in the foreground and the words "Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti" underneath, cannot be traced, but it has been suggested that it was taken from a Commemorative Medal of the Siege, believed to have been designed under instructions from General Eliott.No action has been taken with regard to replacing the badge originally approved for the centre of the Union Jack, but the device shown on the Seal and in a despatch in September 1926, the late Sir Charles Monro recommended that the arms originally granted by Ferdinand and Isabella should be regarded as the true and proper Arms of Gibraltar, and that the device on the seal should be changed to conform with this. He also recommended that the words "Montis Insignia Calpe" should be regarded as part of the device.The Secretary of State sought the advice of the Garter King of Arms as to whether the Arms granted by Ferdinand and Isabella could be regarded as the recognised ones without the necessity for a Royal Warrant and whether they could be placed on record officially with the addition of the motto "Montis Insignia Calpe". He was advised that this could be done without the issue of a Royal Warrant and it was suggested that a properly attested and accurate copy of the Grant of Arms in 1502 should be recorded at the College of Arms.
Ivan Sache, 1 July 2015
According tolags, Badges and Arms of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas and of Territories Under His Majesty's Protection[hms32] (Supplementary page, Volume II), Gibraltar's coat of arms was adopted 10th July 1502. The year, and information that the grant was made by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella seems to be generally accepted, but I have not seen the day and month quoted anywhere else.
David Prothero, 5 September 1999
![[Coat of arms]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgi)1502.jpg)
Original coat of arms of Gibraltar - Image provided byTito Vallejo (trustee of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust), 13 June 2002
Granted in 1502 the warrant reads (Sir William Jackson,Rock of the Gibraltarians):
[...] we grant you as arms an escutcheon on which two thirds of its upper parts shall have a white field, in the said field set a red castle underneath the said castle, on the under third of the escutcheon which must be a red field on which there must be a white line between the castle and the said red field; on this a golden key which shall be on that with a chain from the said castle.
Željko Heimer, 24 March 2003
On 16 October 2007, Edgar A. Triay sent a Letter to the Editor of "gibfocus.gi" (site no longer online), claiming that a new flag is needed for Gibraltar:
Triay's proposal prompted several reactions, subequently published by "gibfocus.gi":
Ivan Sache, 28 October 2007
