| | | | The Royal Standard
| The Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom. The Royal Standard is flown when the Queen is in residence in one of the Royal palaces at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Sandringham, and Windsor Castle. The Royal Standard may also be flown on any building, official or private, visited by the Queen, if the owner or proprietor so requests.. The Royal Standard may not fly on Cathedrals, Abbeys, churches or other ecclesiastical buildings unless they are Royal Peculiars. The Royal Standard is flown on The Queen's car on official journeys and on aircraft (while on the ground). The Royal Standard may also be flown by the Armed Services, in the absence of the Sovereign, at a ceremony held in honour of the Sovereign's official birthday. It is never flown at half-mast. Since the union of the Crown in 1603, the composition of The Royal Standard has taken various forms. The three lions represent England, the red rampant lion represents Scotland, and the harp represents Ireland.
The normal sized Royal Standard is 12 feet by 6 feet. There are two smaller versions of The Royal Standard for bad weather and a larger one for ceremonial occasions.
In other Commonwealth countries The Queen's personal flag instead of The Royal Standard is used instead.
Wales is not represented in The Royal Standard, as its special position as a Principality was recognised by the creation of the Prince of Wales long before the incorporation of the quarterings for Scotland and Ireland in the Royal Arms. The Arms of the Prince of Wales show not only these quarterings, but also the arms of the ancient Principality at the centre.
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