Flag of Orkney

The flag of Orkney was determined in an open competition in February and March 2007. The residents were asked from Orkney to choose from a list of five proposals their preferred motif that were previously all been approved by the Scottish Heraldikbehörde, the Court of the Lord Lyon. As winner of the competition showed the postman Duncan Tollock of Birsay.

The flag shows a blue Scandinavian cross in yellow outline on a red background. Red and yellow are from the coat of arms of Scotland and Norway, and symbolize the historical ties to both countries. The blue comes from the Flag of Scotland and represents the sea and the seafaring tradition of the islands.

The original flag of Orkney was created mid-1990s and showed a red Scandinavian cross on a yellow background. However, they had no official status. The Court of the Lord Lyon refused to give its consent on the basis of similarity with the arms of Ulster. It also provides (apart from the slightly darker shade of red ) from the same as the flag of the Kalmar Union, the gesamtskandinavischen State from 1397 to 1523.

Source

• Flag ( United Kingdom)
• Orkney Islands