Anguilla Flags

Flag of Anguilla

The Anguilla flag has a particularly unique history. Anguilla is a British overseas territory, and its flag resembles those of other such territories, but it is not the first flag to represent Anguilla. The current flag of Anguilla draws heavily on the previous Anguilla flag, which represented it while it was an independent nation. That connection to an independent flag is unique, and makes Anguilla flags stand out from those of other British territories.

Colors and Symbolism of the Anguilla Flag

Anguilla flags have a dark blue field with the British Union Jack proudly displayed in the canton and the island's coat of arms in the fly. The coat of arms consists of three gold dolphins jumping out of the sea upon a white shield. The coat of arms was taken directly from the previously flag of Anguilla that was used during the country's brief period of independence. The three dolphins are symbols of wisdom, friendship, and strength. The Union Jack is a symbol of the British Empire and it serves to emphasize the strong connection between Britain and Anguilla.

History of the Anguilla Flag

Anguilla has had three flags that were distinct from the flags used by the larger colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. The first of those flags was extremely unpopular with the people of Anguilla, and it fell out of use after a relatively short period of time. It had a solid red field that displayed nation's name along with a pair of mermaids within of a blue oval. Many similar flags were in unofficial use at the same time, and the majority of those unofficial flags either removed a design element from the official flag or used an alternative color for the field.

The Dolphin Flag came into use in 1967, and it was significantly more popular than the previous flag. It displayed three gold dolphins on a white field above a blue stripe, which provided the modern coat of arms of Anguilla. The flag was only in use for two years before Anguilla became a British overseas territory and adopted the current flag, although the survival of the design on the modern flag is a testament to the Dolphin Flag's enduring popularity.