Royal Standard of Norway
Encyclopedia
The Royal Standard of Norway (Kongeflagget) is used by the King of Norway. It was introduced by Cabinet Decision of 15 November 1905, following the plebiscite confirming the election of Prince Carl
of Denmark
to the vacant throne after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway
. Under his chosen name of Haakon VII
, the new king arrived in the capital Kristiania on 25 November 1905 on a ship flying the royal standard for the first time.
The flag is the banner of the Coat of Arms of Norway
. It is based on the 1905 version of the coat of Arms, at least 750 years old. The present design of the coat of arms for government use was changed in 1937 to fit a medieval style, but the king has kept the 1905 design for the royal arms and standard.
The flag was referred to as the "ancient royal standard" of Norway when it was introduced. It is the earliest known flag of Norway, originally only a flag for the king, as it is today. During the early period of the union with Denmark
, it was occasionally flown from fortresses and naval vessels until it was gradually phased out during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its earliest certain depiction is on the seal of Duchess Ingebjørg in 1318. In 1748 a decree stated that the Dannebrog
should be the only legal merchant flag for ships of the united kingdoms of Denmark-Norway.
The flag of the King is also used by the Queen.
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Between 1844 and 1905, the kings of Norway used a royal standard on the same pattern as Denmark
and Sweden
. It was a war flag
with the union badge
in the canton and the royal arms in the centre of the cross.
The Crown Prince's flag is also used by the Crown Princess.
There are no flags for the rest of the royal family.
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to the vacant throne after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
. Under his chosen name of Haakon VII
Haakon VII
Haakon VII may refer to:People* Haakon VII of Norway , King of Norway Ships* HNoMS King Haakon VII, a Royal Norwegian Navy escort ship in commission from 1942 to 1951...
, the new king arrived in the capital Kristiania on 25 November 1905 on a ship flying the royal standard for the first time.
The flag is the banner of the Coat of Arms of Norway
Coat of arms of Norway
The coat of arms of Norway is a crowned, golden lion rampant holding an axe with an argent blade, on a crowned, triangular and red escutcheon. Its elements originate from personal insignias for the royal house in the High Middle Ages, thus being among the oldest in Europe...
. It is based on the 1905 version of the coat of Arms, at least 750 years old. The present design of the coat of arms for government use was changed in 1937 to fit a medieval style, but the king has kept the 1905 design for the royal arms and standard.
The flag was referred to as the "ancient royal standard" of Norway when it was introduced. It is the earliest known flag of Norway, originally only a flag for the king, as it is today. During the early period of the union with Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, it was occasionally flown from fortresses and naval vessels until it was gradually phased out during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its earliest certain depiction is on the seal of Duchess Ingebjørg in 1318. In 1748 a decree stated that the Dannebrog
Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
should be the only legal merchant flag for ships of the united kingdoms of Denmark-Norway.
The flag of the King is also used by the Queen.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It was a war flag
War flag
A war flag is a variant of a national flag for use by the nation's military forces on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign — the battle ensign...
with the union badge
Union badge of Norway and Sweden
The Union badge was inserted into the canton of Swedish and Norwegian flags in 1844 to denote their partnership in the personal Union, which they entered in 1814. It combined the flag colours of both kingdoms, equally distributed, to reflect their equal status within the Union...
in the canton and the royal arms in the centre of the cross.
The Standard of the Crown Prince
The flag of the Crown Prince (Kronprinsflagget) is similar to the royal standard, except that the field is swallowtailed. It was introduced by Royal Resolution of 26 December 1924.The Crown Prince's flag is also used by the Crown Princess.
There are no flags for the rest of the royal family.
Sources
- Flags of the World
- National Archive flag history With a picture of the seal of duchess Ingebjørg.