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The Royal Standard represents the
Sovereign. It is flown when the Queen is in residence in one of the Royal
Palaces in the United Kingdom, on the Queen's car on official journeys, and
on aircraft (when on the ground). It may also be flown on any building,
official or private, during a visit by the
Queen. The Royal Standard was also flown on the Royal Yacht Britannia, when
the Queen was on board.
The Royal Standard has undergone several changes over the centuries. The Standard today has four quarterings -
two for England (three lions passant), one for Scotland (a lion rampant) and
one for Ireland (a harp). Wales is not represented on the Royal Standard. In Scotland a
different version of the Royal Standard is used, with two Scottish
quarterings instead of two English quarterings. In circumstances where it is
not appropriate to fly the Queen’s Personal Flag, the Royal Standard should still be flown.
The Queen adopted a personal flag in
1960, and variations for Her Majesty’s Realms thereafter.
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