The British Empire

The Flag of the Commonwealth

The official flag which is currently used to represent the Commonwealth of Nations was introduced in 2013. However, its design dates back to 1976 and was only altered in order to create a new one.

As you can see, the flag consists of a golden globe based on a blue field. The globe is meant to represent the "global nature" of the Commonwealth, meaning its expansion and impact on the whole world. The blue field is supposed to portray the "Britishness" of the Commonwealth. Moreover, the golden globe is surrounded by radiating spears. If you take a closer look you will notice that those spears form a "C" which stands for Commonwealth.

As I have mentioned before, the current flag is based on the previous flag which was created by the first Commonwealth Secretary-General Arnold Smith and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1976. Back then, the globe was surrounded by 61 spears which were not intended to represent the number of countries that are part of the Commonwealth since there have never been 61 Commonwealth members. It is rather a symbol for the "many facets of Commonwealth cooperation" (Source) around the world.

However, the current flag was altered, it no longer includes 61 radiating spears but 34. The colours were modified as well.

Nowadays the flag is mainly used at places where Commonwealth meetings and events take place. It is permanently flown at Marlborough House in London, which is the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat. There are also a few cities who raise the flag on Commonwealth Day (held each year on the second monday of march), like for example Edinburgh.

CURRENT FLAG