The Blue Ensign is a

flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated or formerly associated with the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

. It is used either plain or defaced with a badge or other

emblem An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint. Emblems vs. symbols Although the words ''emblem'' and '' symbol'' are often use ...

. The evolution of the Blue Ensign followed that of the

Union Jack The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. ...

. The ensign originated in the 17th century with the

St George's cross In heraldry, Saint George's Cross, the Cross of Saint George, is a red cross on a white background, which from the Late Middle Ages became associated with Saint George, the military saint, often depicted as a crusader. Associated with the cru ...

(the Flag of England) in the

canton Canton may refer to: Administrative division terminology * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and ente ...

, and with a blue field. The

Acts of Union 1707 The Acts of Union ( gd, Achd an Aonaidh) were two Acts of Parliament: the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act 1707 passed by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the t ...

united

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

with

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

in the

Kingdom of Great Britain The Kingdom of Great Britain (officially Great Britain) was a sovereign country in Western Europe from 1 May 1707 to the end of 31 December 1800. The state was created by the 1706 Treaty of Union and ratified by the Acts of Union 1707, wh ...

, thus producing a new Blue Ensign with the new Union Flag in the canton. With the

Act of Union 1800 The Acts of Union 1800 (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a single 'Act of Union 1801') were parallel acts of the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of Ireland which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Irela ...

, Ireland became a part of the new

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was a sovereign state in the British Isles that existed between 1801 and 1922, when it included all of Ireland. It was established by the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Grea ...

, and

St Patrick's Cross Saint Patrick's Saltire or Saint Patrick's Cross is a red saltire (X-shaped cross) on a white field. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned "''argent, a saltire gules''". The Saint Patrick's Flag (''Bratach Naomh Pádraig'') is a flag compos ...

was incorporated into the Union Flag and, accordingly, into the cantons of all British ensigns from 1 January 1801. File:Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg, The modern Blue Ensign of the United Kingdom File:British-Blue-Ensign-1707.svg, The British Blue Ensign (1707–1801) File:English Blue Ensign 1620.svg, English Blue Ensign as it appeared in the seventeenth century

Plain Blue Ensign

Prior to the reorganisation of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

in 1864, the plain blue ensign had been the ensign of one of three squadrons of the Royal Navy, the Blue Squadron. This changed in 1864, when an order in council provided that the Red Ensign was allocated to merchantmen, the Blue Ensign was to be the flag of ships in public service or commanded by an officer in the

Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original R ...

, and the White Ensign was allocated to the Navy. Thus, after 1864, the plain blue ensign (i.e., without any defacement or modification) is permitted to be worn, instead of the Red Ensign, by three categories of civilian vessel: # British merchant vessels whose officers and crew include a certain number of retired

personnel or Royal Naval Reservists, or are commanded by an officer of the

in possession of a Government warrant. The number and rank of such crew members required has varied over the years, as have the additional conditions required, since the system was first introduced in 1864. # Royal Research Ships by warrant whether crewed by former Royal Navy personnel or Merchant Navy personnel. # British-registered

yacht A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

s belonging to members of the following yacht clubs: * Hornet Services Sailing Club * Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club *

Royal Brighton Yacht Club The Royal Brighton Yacht Club (founded in 1875) is located at Brighton, Victoria, Australia at 253 Esplanade Brighton.https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/community-directory/royal-brighton-yacht-club-inc History It is said to have all begun as a re ...

, Victoria * Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club * Royal Cruising Club * Royal Dorset Yacht Club * Royal Engineer Yacht Club *

Royal Geelong Yacht Club The Royal Geelong Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in 1859 and based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club received its royal patronage in 1924. The club is based on the shores of Corio Bay in central Geelong. The 223-berth Bay City Ma ...

, Victoria * Royal Gourock Yacht Club * Royal Highland Yacht Club * Royal Marines Sailing Club * Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, Victoria *

Royal Motor Yacht Club Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

Royal Naval Sailing Association The Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) is the governing body that oversees all aspects of sailing, both racing and recreational sailing cruises, throughout the British Royal Navy. The RNSA is also the advisor to the Navy Board on sailing ma ...

* Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Yacht Club *

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is a New Zealand yacht club, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guises of New Zealand Challenge and Team New Zealand. It held the America's Cup from 1995 until 2003, becomin ...

Royal Perth Yacht Club The Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. It is the third oldest yacht club in Australia after the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

, Western Australia *

Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club The Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in Scotland in 1978, by merger of the Royal Northern Yacht Club (founded in 1824) and the Royal Clyde Yacht Club (founded in 1856). History The Royal Northern was originally based ...

*Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, New Zealand *

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron is a Squadron (not a club which is reflected in its support for all things sailing) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. History The Queensland Yacht Squadron was founded in 1885, received royal charter in ...

*Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club *Royal Solent Yacht Club *Royal South Australia Yacht Squadron *

Royal Southern Yacht Club The Royal Southern Yacht Club is a yacht club in Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, England. History File:Council Registry - geograph.org.uk - 1720858.jpg, The original Royal Southern Yacht Club Club House File:1a Bugle Street.JPG, original Royal Sou ...

* Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, New South Wales *Royal Temple Yacht Club * Royal Thames Yacht Club *Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club *

Royal Welsh Yacht Club The Royal Welsh Yacht Club (RWYC) is one of the oldest yacht clubs still operating in the world today, and the one situated in the oldest premises. It is the fourteenth Royal Yacht Club in Britain and one of the twelve oldest clubs in the world. ...

*Royal Western Yacht Club of England *Royal Western Yacht Club of Scotland * Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania *

Royal Yacht Club of Victoria The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) is one of Australia's oldest yacht clubs. It is based in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown, not far from where the Yarra River flows into Port Phillip Bay. History The club was founded in May 1853 as ...

* Sussex Motor Yacht Club Permission for yachts to wear the blue ensign (and other special yachting ensigns) was suspended during both

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

Defaced Blue Ensign

Since 1864, the Blue Ensign is defaced with a badge or emblem, to form the ensign of United Kingdom government departments or public bodies. Current defaced Blue Ensigns (besides yacht clubs listed below) are:

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

marine vessels (such as seaplane tenders) flew a defaced blue ensign with an eagle and anchor. Yachting Blue Ensigns defaced by the badge of the club were recorded in the Navy List until 1985, and now they are administered by the Royal Yachting Association for the Ministry of Defence. Current defaced Blue Ensigns are:

Flags of the Crown Dependencies using defaced Blue Ensigns

* Government Ensign of Alderney * Government Ensign of Guernsey * Government Ensign of Jersey

Flags of British Overseas Territories using defaced Blue Ensigns

Current flags: *

Flag of Anguilla The national flag of Anguilla, a British overseas territory, consists of a Blue Ensign with the British flag in the canton, charged with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. The coat of arms consists of three dolphins in a circular formati ...

Government Ensign of Bermuda (the flag commonly used on land is Bermuda's Red Ensign) *

Flag of the British Virgin Islands The flag of the British Virgin Islands was adopted by Royal Warrant on 15 November 1960 after the islands were made into a separate British colony. Previously, the territory was administered as part of the British Leeward Islands. Description T ...

Flag of the Cayman Islands The flag of the Cayman Islands consists of a Blue Ensign defaced with the British overseas territory's coat of arms. Adopted in 1959 to supplement the Union Jack and to replace the flag of the Colony of Jamaica, it has been the flag of the C ...

Flag of the Falkland Islands The current flag of the Falkland Islands was adopted on 25 January 1999 and consists of a Defacement (flag), defaced Blue Ensign, with the Union Flag in the Canton (flag), canton and the Coat of Arms of the Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands coat ...

Government Ensign of Gibraltar (there is another flag, not based on an ensign, that is commonly used on land) * Flag of Montserrat * Flag of Pitcairn Islands * Flag of Saint Helena * Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands Former flags: The defaced blue ensign was formerly used as:

National flags based on the Blue Ensign

These include: *

Flag of Australia The flag of Australia, also known as the Australian Blue Ensign, is based on the British Blue Ensign—a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter—augmented with a large white seven-pointed star (the Commonwealth Star) and a r ...

** Flag of New South Wales ** Flag of Queensland ** Flag of South Australia **

Flag of Tasmania The current state flag of Tasmania was officially adopted following a proclamation by Tasmanian colonial Governor Sir Frederick Weld on 25 September 1876, and was first published in the ''Tasmanian Gazette'' the same day. The governor's procla ...

** Flag of Victoria **

Flag of Western Australia The flag of Western Australia consists of a Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the state. Adopted in 1953 to replace a similar design used from the time when the state was still a British colony, it has been the flag of Western Australia ...

* Flag of Fiji (light blue) * Flag of New Zealand **

Flag of the Cook Islands The flag of the Cook Islands, officially known as the Cook Islands Ensign, is based on the traditional design for former United Kingdom, British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Flag of the United Kingdom, Unio ...

* Flag of Tuvalu (light blue)

Other flags based on the Blue Ensign

Flag of Ceylon * Ensign of The Royal Hospital School * New York Union Flag (1775)

George Rex Flag * Government Ensign of Tanganyika (1923–1961)

Tanganyika Territory Tanganyika was a colonial territory in East Africa which was administered by the United Kingdom in various guises from 1916 to 1961. It was initially administered under a military occupation regime. From 20 July 1922, it was formalised into a L ...

blue ensign * Government Ensign of Fiji

Fijian government ensign ** Customs Ensign of Fiji

Fijian customs ensign * Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games

Flag of Australasia team at the Olympic games * Flag of the Blood Tribe

Flag of the

Blood 148 Blood 148 is a First Nations reserve in Alberta, Canada. It is inhabited by the Blood ( Kainai) First Nation and was established under the provisions of Treaty 7. This reserve is managed from the community of Stand Off on its northwest border a ...

Kainai Nation of

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest T ...

, Canada

References

;Notes ;Footnotes

External links

Blue Ensign page on the "Flags of the World" website

UKNavalGovernment
on flags.net {{UKFlags Flags of the United Kingdom British Empire