Shetland Islands flag
| Shetland flag | |
|---|---|
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| Vexillological symbol : |
 ?
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| Aspect ratio: | 5: 3 |
| Officially accepted: | February 1, 2005 |
The Shetland flag was designed by Roy Grönneberg and Bill Adams in 1969 . It was created unofficially to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the transition of this group of islands from Norway to Scotland .
It uses the same colors as the flag of Scotland , in the shape of the Scandinavian Northern Cross . This is intended to symbolize Shetland's ties to both Norway and Scotland.
The flag is often used privately by Shetland residents, both on land and at sea. At the beginning of 2005 she was recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon , the Scottish Heraldry Authority.
The Shetland flag is practically identical to the former unofficial flag of Iceland , the Hvítbláinn , which was used by Icelandic nationalists from around 1890 until the First World War.