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What is the Queen's Colour?
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Queen's Colour: more than just a flag |
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The Queen's Colour is no ordinary flag.
It's an important symbol of respect to a military service or regiment
which represents heroic deeds and battle honours. |
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The
Queen's colour is a double folded silk White Ensign on which a crown
and Royal Cypher have been embroidered.
It measures precisely 44 inches by 36 inches and has a gold and blue
silk cord and gold tassels.
The size and design is standard for all Queen's Colours presented
to the Royal Navy.
The Colour is carried on an ash staff seven feet in length and three
inches in circumference with a gilt badge on top.
The origin of the custom of carrying the colours goes back to the
days of early man - who fixed his family badge to a pole and held
it aloft in battle.
This served a dual purpose - both indicating his position and acting
as a rallying point should the occasion arise.
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| New
Colours for the Royal Marines in 2001 |
Medieval
chivalry followed the same idea when armorial bearings were placed
on their banners so these could be seen above a melee.
Armies
began to adopt a system of regimentation at the beginning of the 17th
Century and each company was allocated a colour.
Colours have become the symbol of the spirit of a service or regiment.
In the Royal Marines and the Army the they bear the battle honours
of a regiment and commemorate the gallant deeds performed by its members.
To maintain suitable respect the Colour is consecrated before being
taken into use and is laid up in a sacred or public place when its
period of service ends.
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Broadcasting House
Seymour Road
Plymouth
PL3 5BD
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devon.online@bbc.co.uk
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