Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories

British Empire
Left: Flag of Great Britain (before 1801) Right: Flag of the United Kingdom
Flags were used to represent a variety of territories colonies, and Dominions across the British Empire

List of UK flags
English flags Northern Irish flags Scottish flags Welsh flags Cornish flags Royal Standards City, town and village flags Former British Empire

The historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories refers to the various flags that were used across the various Dominions, Crown colonies, protectorates, and territories which made up the British Empire and overseas territories. Early flags that were used across the Empire (including the then Thirteen Colonies which later became the United States of America) tended to be variations of the Red and Blue Ensigns of Great Britain with no colonial badges or coat of arms attached to them.^[1] In the first half of the 19th century, the first colonies started to acquire their own colony badges, but it was not until the UK Parliament passed the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 that the colonies were required to apply their own emblems.

The following list contains all former and current flags that have been used across the Empire and as well as British overseas territories.