View source for Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations

{{Short description|none}}
{{redirect|Flag of the Commonwealth|the flag of the English Commonwealth republic|Flags of the English Interregnum}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name       = Commonwealth of Nations
| Nickname   = 
| Morenicks  = 
| Image      = Commonwealth Flag 2013.svg
| Imagetext  = Commonwealth flag as adopted in 2013
| Use        = 000000
| Symbol     = 
| Proportion = 3:5 or 1:2
| Adoption   = 26 March 1976; modified 12 November 2013
| Design     = A gold globe, surrounded by 34 sunrays, on a blue field.
| Designer   = 
}}

The '''flag of the Commonwealth of Nations''' is the official flag used by and representing the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. Its current design dates to 2013, a modification of a design adopted in 1976.

==Description==
The flag consists of the Commonwealth symbol in gold on a blue [[Field (heraldry)|field]]. The symbol centres on a [[globe]], representing the global nature of the Commonwealth and the breadth of its membership.

==History==
The flag developed from car pennants produced for the first time at the 1973 [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]], held in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]. The initiative for its design is credited to two Canadians: the first [[Commonwealth Secretary-General]], [[Arnold Smith]]; and [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]]. It was officially adopted on 26 March 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cwn.html |title=Commonwealth of Nations |first=Dean |last=Thomas |access-date=14 January 2008 |date=31 March 2004 |publisher=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]]}}</ref>

===Original design===
[[File:Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations (1976–2013).svg|thumb|The design of the Commonwealth Flag that was adopted in 1976]]
The original design featured a globe surrounded by 64 radiating, approximately quadrilateral, sunrays, which form a 'C' for 'Commonwealth'. The number of sunrays did not represent the number of member states (there have never been 64 members); instead, the large number represented the many ways in which the Commonwealth cooperates around the world. This flag used Pantone 286.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/37832/symbolandflag/ |title=Symbol and Flag |access-date=14 January 2008 |publisher=[[Commonwealth Secretariat]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124065315/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/37832/symbolandflag/ |archive-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>

===2013 redesign===
In 2013, the globe was tilted, and the number of sunrays reduced to 34. The colourings used in the flag were also slightly modified.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cwn.html|title=Commonwealth of Nations |publisher=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]]}}</ref> The standard proportions of the flag are 3:5; however, a 1:2 version appears in countries whose flags use a 1:2 ratio, such as Australia and the UK. This flag used Pantone 280.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth of Nations |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cwn.html |access-date=5 May 2020 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref>

==Usage==
The flag of the Commonwealth of Nations is flown at [[Marlborough House]], London, the headquarters of the [[Commonwealth Secretariat]], throughout the year, and for a limited period at other venues where Commonwealth meetings, events, or visits are taking place (for example, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings). 
[[File:Commonwealth flag Ottawa.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The original Commonwealth Flag design flying at the [[Canadian Parliament Buildings]] at [[Parliament Hill]], [[Ottawa]], in 2010|alt=]]
On 28 September 2016, the [[Welsh Conservative]] [[Member of the National Assembly for Wales|AM]] in the [[National Assembly for Wales]] [[Mohammad Asghar]] suggested that once [[Brexit|the United Kingdom left the European Union]], the Welsh Assembly should replace the EU Flag alongside the [[Union Jack|Union Flag]] and the [[Flag of Wales|Welsh Flag]]. It has been suggested that the Flag of the Commonwealth be the replacement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/plenaryitem.aspx?category=statements+of+opinion&itemid=789&c=Statements+of+Opinion |title=OPIN-2016-0016 Consulting the public on a new flag at the National Assembly for Wales |website=www.assembly.wales |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002102758/http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/plenaryitem.aspx?category=statements+of+opinion&itemid=789&c=Statements+of+Opinion |archive-date=2 October 2016}} </ref> On 31 January 2020, Brexit was marked at the [[Gibraltar–Spain border|Gibraltar border]] with the lowering of the EU flag and the raising of the Commonwealth flag in its place.<ref>{{cite news |last=Culatto |first=John |title='End of An Era' to be Marked at Midnight by the Singing of EU Anthem at Gibraltar Fontier |url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/01/31/end-of-an-era-to-be-marked-at-midnight-by-the-singing-of-eu-anthem-at-gibraltar-frontier/ |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=The Olive Press |date=31 January 2020}}</ref>

===Commonwealth Day===
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General [[Don McKinnon]] encourages the flying of the Commonwealth flag on Commonwealth Day, and the Office of the Secretary-General notes that "it is not the case that the Union Jack – or the flag of any other member country for that matter – is a substitute for the Commonwealth flag which represents the association of 53 members and their peoples."<ref>[http://makepeace.ca/commonwealth-flag.pdf Letter from the office of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, January 30, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525153024/http://makepeace.ca/commonwealth-flag.pdf |date=25 May 2011}}</ref> However, in Canada, the [[Government of Canada|federal government]] directs its installations with a second flagpole to fly the [[Royal Union Flag]] instead, as that flag was the designated symbol in that country to represent its Commonwealth membership and allegiance to [[The Crown]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/union_e.cfm |title=The Royal Union flag |access-date=14 January 2008 |date=24 September 2007 |publisher=[[Department of Canadian Heritage]] |archive-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217053302/http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/union_e.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth Flag is flown on Commonwealth Day at the [[Scottish Parliament Building]] in [[Edinburgh]], alongside the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|Union Flag]], the [[Flag of Scotland|Scottish saltire]], and the [[European Union flag]], which latter three flying daily.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-01/pa01-010.htm |title=School Pupils Help Parliament Mark Commonwealth Day |access-date=14 January 2008 |date=13 March 2001 |publisher=[[Scottish Parliament]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703065610/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-01/pa01-010.htm |archive-date=3 July 2009}}</ref> Similar arrangements were made to fly the Commonwealth flag on Commonwealth Day, alongside the Union Flag, were made at the  in [[Belfast]] in 2002. 
A similar arrangement was made at the [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Parliament Buildings]] in [[Belfast]] in 2002, with the Commonwealth flag flown alongside the Union Flag on Commonwealth Day. In Gibraltar, the flag has been flown since the territory's [[European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019 (Gibraltar)|withdrawal from the European Union]], replacing the [[Flag of Europe|Flag of the European Union]].<ref>[https://www.gbc.gi/news/commonwealth-flag-has-now-replaced-all-european-flags-around-gibraltar The Commonwealth flag has now replaced all European flags around Gibraltar], [[Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation|GBC]], 3rd February 2020</ref> Prior to Brexit, it was raised on Commonwealth Day from the third flagpole at No. 6 Convent Place, the office of the [[Chief Minister of Gibraltar|Chief Minister]], alongside the Union Flag and the [[flag of Gibraltar]].<ref>[https://www.surinenglish.com/gibraltar/201903/15/change-flags-mark-commonwealth-20190315092755-v.html Change of flags in Gibraltar to mark Commonwealth Day], [[Diario Sur|SUR in English]], 15  March 2019</ref>

==Commonwealth Games==
A ceremonial flag is used at the [[Commonwealth Games]], the design of which has changed considerably over the years.

<gallery>
File:Ceremonial flag of the British Empire Games (1930–1950).svg|British Empire Games flag (1930–1950)
File:Ceremonial flag of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954–1966).svg|British Empire and Commonwealth Games flag (1954–1966)
File:Ceremonial flag of the British Commonwealth Games (1970–1974).svg|British Commonwealth Games flag (1970–1974)
File:Ceremonial flag of the Commonwealth Games (1978–1998).svg|Commonwealth Games flag (1978–1998)
File:Manmohan Singh receiving the Commonwealth Games Flag from the Chairman, Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games, Shri Suresh Kalmadi, in New Delhi. The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports.jpg|Commonwealth Games flag (2002–2018)
File:Commonwealth Games Federation symbol (2019- Till Date).svg|Commonwealth Games flag (2022–present)
</gallery>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Commonwealth Day 2017 (32545205223).jpg|The Commonwealth Flag, as well as the flags of Commonwealth members, flying in [[Parliament Square]] on Commonwealth Day 2017
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[British Empire flag]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041220223054/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=37832 Commonwealth Secretariat webpage on the Commonwealth Symbol and Flag]

{{Commonwealth of Nations topics}}
{{Flags of International Organization}}
[[Category:Symbols of the Commonwealth of Nations|Flag]]
[[Category:Flags of international organizations|Commonwealth Of Nations]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1973|Commonwealth Of Nations]]