A diplomatic flag is a flag used by a sovereign state engaging in diplomacy which is different from the nation's normal national flag. Some nations also have personal flags that are used by their diplomatic representatives, such as the U.S. Foreign Service flags.[1]
National diplomatic flags
Currently, only two nations use diplomatic flags: Thailand (formerly Siam) and the United Kingdom. Different flags are used based upon the diplomatic rank of the mission. British High Commissions do not use diplomatic flags but rather the normal flag of the United Kingdom, since members of the Commonwealth are not considered 'foreign' by the government of the United Kingdom.[2]
Thailand

 Flag used by Thai Embassies
 Flag used by Thai Consulates and Consulates-general
United Kingdom

 Flag used by British Embassies
 Flag used by British Consulates and Consulates-general
Historical national diplomatic flags
Siam
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 Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1892–1912.svg.png.webp)
 Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1892–1912.svg.png.webp)
 Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1912–1917.svg.png.webp)
 Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1912–1917.svg.png.webp)
 Flag used by Siamese Embassies, Consulates and Consulates-general 1917–1927
Sweden and Norway
The members of the union between Sweden and Norway each had their own separate national flags, however they also had a flag named the Union mark, which was used as the flag of the common diplomatic representations of both countries abroad.[3][4]
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 The Union mark
Personal diplomatic and consular flags
United Kingdom

 Flag used by British consular officials when embarked in small boats (flag displayed at bow)
 Standard of the governor of Anguilla
 Standard of the governor of Bermuda
 Standard of the commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
 Standard of the governor of the British Virgin Islands
 Standard of the governor of the Cayman Islands
 Standard of the governor of the Falkland Islands
 Standard of the governor of Gibraltar
 Standard of the governor of Montserrat
 Standard of the governor of the Pitcairn Islands
 Standard of the governor of Saint Helena
 Standard of the commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
 Standard of the governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
United States

 Flag of the secretary of state
 Flag of the deputy secretary of state
 Flag of United States ambassadors
 Flag of a Foreign Service officer
 Flag of a Consular officer
Historical personal diplomatic flags
United Kingdom
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 Standard of the governor of Gibraltar (1939–1982)
Yugoslavia
The flag for the accredited representatives of the state (diplomats and heads of consular missions) of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was similar to the civil ensign, that is the national flag in 2:3 ratio.[5]
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 Diplomatic and consular representatives
References
- ↑ Flags of the World: Diplomatic and Consular Flags (U.S.)
 - ↑ Berridge, G R; Lloyd, Lorna (2012), The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy (3rd ed.), Palgrave Macmillan, p. 104
 - ↑ Anker, C.J. (1888). "Tegninger af Norges flag i dets forskjellige skikkelser gjennem tiden". Kristiania: P.T. Mallings boghandels forlag, pp. 11–12.
 - ↑ Colour plate attached to "Cirkulär 18. Oktober 1899" from Kongl. Utrikes Departementet, Stockholm, to the consuls of the United Kingdoms
 - ↑ Flags of the World: Socialist Yugoslavia: Naval rank flags (1956–1991) Part 3 – Non-naval dignitary ranks