Flag of the British Virgin Islands

What the flag of the British Virgin Islands looks like

The flag is a blue ensign, a flag type used by British overseas territories, with a ratio of 1:2. The Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom, fills the canton in the upper hoist corner. On the blue field to the right is the territory's coat of arms.

The shield is mainly green, a color not common on flags of British territories. It shows Saint Ursula, in white and gold, with a row of golden oil lamps on either side, and a gold scroll with the motto Vigilate beneath. The Union Jack gives the flag its blue, red and white; the green comes only from the shield.

British Virgin Islands flag meaning and symbolism

The blue ensign shows that the islands are a British overseas territory, and the Union Jack reflects the link with the United Kingdom. The meaning of the coat of arms comes from the islands' name. When Christopher Columbus saw the islands in 1493, he named them after Saint Ursula and her eleven thousand virgin followers, a legend from the early Christian period. Ursula is shown holding a lamp, and the lamps on the shield stand for her followers.

The motto Vigilate comes from the Latin for watch or be vigilant, and refers to the parable of the wise virgins who kept their lamps lit. The green of the shield is often linked to the lush islands.

History of the British Virgin Islands flag

The islands came under British control in the 17th century and were governed for many years as part of the Leeward Islands. Like other colonies, they used a blue ensign with a badge. The present flag, with a badge showing Saint Ursula, was granted by royal warrant on 15 November 1960. The shield on the flag was enlarged and redrawn later, but the design has remained recognizable.

The British Virgin Islands remain a British overseas territory with their own government, based in Road Town on Tortola. The same coat of arms appears on the territory's other flags, including the governor's flag and the civil ensign, which is a red ensign. See also the BVI flag emoji.

Flags that look like the British Virgin Islands flag

Several other British overseas territories use blue ensigns with a shield in the fly, so they are easy to confuse. The flags of Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands all share the same layout. The shield is what sets them apart: in the case of the British Virgin Islands, it is the green shield with Saint Ursula. See all flags of the world for more.