OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today unveiled a new personal flag, for use in Canada, created for His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. The flag, whose creation and design were approved by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, will be flown for the first time tomorrow when The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Ottawa to begin their nine-day Royal Tour of Canada, from June 30th to July 8th.

“We are proud to be once again honouring members of the Royal Family with their own personal flag for use in Canada,” said the Prime Minister. “The flag is a testament to the special bond between Canada and the Royal Family and pays tribute to our shared history, traditions and institutions. It will be flown with great pride throughout the upcoming Royal Tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”.

The new flag was developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority at Government House in Ottawa. When The Duke of Cambridge is in Canada, his personal flag will be flown day and night at any building at which he resides and on all vehicles in which he travels. It is the first personal flag to be created for a member of the Royal Family since 1962, when it was announced that Her Majesty The Queen of Canada had adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada. 

The Queen has also approved the design and creation of a personal flag for future use in Canada by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

For a high definition image of the flag please visit: http://www.gg.ca/images/royal/cambridge.jpg

Backgrounder

Personal Flag For Use In Canada For His Royal Highness The Duke Of Cambridge

On June 29, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled a new personal flag, for use in Canada, for His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. The flag – which is to be flown for the first time throughout the upcoming Tour of Canada by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, from June 30th to July 8th – was developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, and its creation and design were approved by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge.

The new flag is composed of the Royal Arms of Canada with the addition in the centre of the Duke of Cambridge’s personal cypher within a wreath of maple leaves and shells – a symbol borrowed from His Royal Highness’s personal coat of arms.  The coronet of his cypher, above the letter W, indicates that he is the child of the heir apparent of the Sovereign.  His Royal Highness’s distinctive heraldic mark (the white three-point label with a red shell in the centre) appears at the top.

The new flag is the first to be created for use in Canada since 1962, when it was announced that Her Majesty The Queen had adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada.  When The Queen is in Canada, her flag is flown day and night at any building in which she is in residence.  Generally, it is also flown at the saluting base when she conducts troop inspections, and on all vehicles in which she travels.

The Queen approved the creation and design of two personal flags, for use in Canada: one for His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the other for his son The Duke of Cambridge.

Her Majesty The Queen has consented to the future creation of such flags for other Members of the Royal Family in connection with Royal Tours of Canada by that Member and based on his / her desire to have a flag issued.