Orkney flag
| Orkney flag | |
|---|---|
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| Vexillological symbol : |
 ?
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| Aspect ratio: | 8:11 |
| Officially accepted: | 2007 |
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The flag of Orkney was chosen in a public competition in February and March 2007. Orkney residents were asked to choose their preferred motif from a list of five suggestions, all of which had previously been approved by the Scottish Heraldry Authority , the Court of the Lord Lyon . The winner of the competition was post office clerk Duncan Tollock from Birsay.
The flag shows a blue Scandinavian cross with a yellow outline on a red background. Red and yellow come from the coats 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 islands' maritime tradition.
The original Orkney flag was created in the mid-1990s and featured a red Scandinavian cross on a yellow background. However, it had no official status. The Court of the Lord Lyon had refused to approve it because of its resemblance to the Ulster coat of arms . In addition, it looks the same (apart from the slightly darker shade of red) like the flag of the Kalmar Union , the nation of Scandinavia from 1397 to 1523.
source
- ^ Postman designs new Orkney flag - BBC News, April 10, 2007