COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

FLAGS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Prior to 1967 the ensign of the Royal Australian Navy was the UK White Ensign, with the Australian national flag as the naval jack. Partly because of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and partly because sentiment has been growing for the adoption of a distinctive RAN ensign, the current Australian White Ensign was introduced. The Queen's Colour of the RAN, for use on ceremonial occasions, is based on the ensign with the crowned monogram of Queen Elizabeth II. With her death and the assession of King Charles III in 2022, this Queen's Colour will be replaced in due course by a King's Colour bearing the new monarch's monogram. Appointment and rank flags of the RAN are mostly the same as those of the Royal Navy. The Chief of Navy (chief of staff) uses the flag of the former Naval Board as his distinctive flag, the Board having been abolished when the military services were brought under a unified Department of Defence. This is a variant of the UK Lord High Admiral's flag, which was used by the now-defunct Admiralty Board. The rank flag of an Admiral of the Fleet is the Australian national flag. In practice this rank is honorary and the only person so far to hold it was the late HRH Prince Philip, the Queen's husband. The pennant for a Naval Officer Commanding is used as a car flag on land and as the senior officer's pennant at sea.

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