Flag of British Virgin Islands
The flag of British Virgin Islands has a blue background with the flag of United Kingdom placed in the upper-left corner on the hoist side. The Virgin Island coat of arms is situated on the right side (fly). The coat of arms depicts a shield composing of a standing lady and two piles of six oil lamps on her either side. A scroll is placed beneath the shield showcasing a word “Vigilate”, meaning ‘Be watchful’.
The lady dressed in white, in the coat of arms, is St. Ursula who is a legendary British princess. The lamps, with one lamp being held in her hand, are of her 11,000 virgin supporters during the sacred movements in Europe. Columbus named the islands the Virgin Islands, for the reason that, the several islands reminded him of St. Ursula and her supporters. The Arms were selected as a depiction of this story. It is also said that the flag should not be placed vertically.
It is believed that when Columbus discovered the British Virgin Islands in 1493, he named them “Las Virgenes” in tribute to St. Ursula and her supporters (who, according to the myth, were martyred along with St. Ursula). The present flag was adopted in 1956 and the devices integrated in the badge were those which had formerly been used in the Public Seal. A slogan was added to the shield, which came from the Leeward Island arms of 10 th April 1909, and granted as arms on 15 th November 1960. Between 1956 and 1960 some flags may have been created with the shield but no motto.
The present flag was officially adopted on 15 th November, 1960.
