British Virgin Islands Flag - Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom

The flag of the British Virgin Islands (an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) is a defaced British Ensign which was adopted in 1956. The flags bear the Union Flag in the canton, sybolising its dependency on Great Britain and the unification of England (Saint George’s Cross), Scotland (Saint Andrew’s Cross) and Ireland (Saint Patrick’s Cross). The Ensign is defaced with the Badge of the British Virgin Islands centered in the fly.

The Badge consists of a green shield charged with twelve golden oil lamps with red flames. In the centre, St. Ursula, patron saint of the British Virgin Islands stands dressed in white, wearing sandals, and carrying one of the lamps. Legend states that Columbus, who discovered and named the British Virgin Islands in 1493, in honour of British loved St. Ursula, and the 11000 “Las Virgenes” who died and were martyred at the hands of the Huns in 4th century Europe.

British heraldry requires that the defaced Blue Ensign is to be only be flown at the stern of vessels belonging to or are in the service of the Her Majesty’s Government. The red ensign is permitted to be flown aboard vessels registered in the British Virgin Islands and or those visiting the British Virgin Islands.