Cambodia Flag - Kingdom of

The Kingdom of Cambodia flag first appeared between 1863 – 1948 during a period of French protection. It consisted of red field with a blue border and a white representation of Angkor Wat (Three Towers) centered in the field. On 20 October 1948 it was revised to reflect a horizontal tri-band of red, blue and red with the Angkor Wat in white centered in the field. This flag flew until King Norodom Sihanouk was deposed in 1970 and would remain the symbol of his loyalist troops in exile.

Lon Nol, who overthrew Sihanouk, introduced a new flag in October 1970 consisting of a blue field with a red canton with a white representation of Angkor Wat and three white stars in the upper fly. In April 1975 the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot seized control of most of Cambodia, thus again introducing a new flag. It was a red field with a three-towered yellow Angkor Wat now stylized and renamed the “monument.” Three years later, a dissident faction of the Khmer Rouge working with the Vietnamese Communists invaded Cambodia The Khmer Rouge government was deposed in January 1979. The new People's Republic of Kampuchea again amended the flag introducing five towers instead of three. On 1 May 1989 The Peoples Republic changed its name to the State of Cambodia in May 1989 resulting in a new constitution and flag consisting of a bicolour red over blue field, bearing a yellow Angkor Wat or Five Towers in the centre.

In October 1991, the UN Security Council negotiated a peace treaty whereby a Peacekeeping force was introduced. A result of this new peace was the re-adoption of the former flag flown between 1863 and 1948 with the Angkor Wat outlined in red. The Royal family was also reinstated as the nation returned to calm. The National Flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia reflects the trilogy of "Nation, Religion and King" the motto of the Khmer Monarchy.