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British Virgin Islands - Flags of the World

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British Virgin Islands Flag Description:

Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful).

British Virgin Islands Flag Information:

A variety of flags are displayed throughout the British Virgin Islands (BVI), although the Union Jack is the official state flag. The BVI coat of arms appears on the governor’s flag and on the British Blue Ensign, used since 1969 as a surrogate BVI national flag for display at the Olympic Games and similar international events. The undefaced Red Ensign is proper for locally registered vessels and as a courtesy flag, although in practice a version defaced with the BVI coat of arms is used.

Christopher Columbus named the Virgin Islands for St. Ursula, the legendary 4th-century leader of 11 (or 11,000) virgins who reputedly were martyred at Cologne (Germany) by the Huns. The BVI, a part of the Leeward Islands colony until July 1, 1956, did not acquire symbols of its own until 1960, when, by royal warrant dated November 15, it was granted a coat of arms, which subsequently became the BVI flag badge. These arms, dating to the early 19th century, depict a green shield bearing the white-robed St. Ursula holding a flaming gold oil lamp and framed by 11 more lamps; beneath the shield is a buff ribbon with the motto “Vigilate” (“Be vigilant”). The BVI Blue Ensign as used by government vessels was modified in 1999, when the shield was enlarged and outlined in white.