¹ Flag ratio: 4:5 (or 2:3); adopted 4 April 1881

The national flag of Monaco has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; it is similar to the flag of Indonesia, which is longer, and the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red. Red and white have been the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi since 1339 at least [1], but the design of the flag has changed with time.

Monaco's original flag (below left), which was similar to its current State Flag but bore an older version of its coat of arms , was in use from the principality's early days until its annexation to France in 1793. During the annexation, it used the French flag (below right), reverting to the previous flag upon regaining its independence in 1814. The present, simpler design was adopted on 4 April 1881 and has been used continuously since.

The center design, consisting simply of lozenges in the Grimaldi family colors (in heraldic terms "lozengy argent and gules"), was used at various times, particularly in the 1600s, as an unofficial flag, and still appears in some royal photographs; however, it has no designated use, and does not represent any Monegasque official in particular.

24 February 1793 to 30 May 1814

State Flag

Monaco's State Flag, which consists of its coat of arms on a white background, is flown at government offices, the Prince's Palace, in the presence of government officials, and as an ensign on the Prince's yacht.

Princely Standard

The Princely Standard, which consisted of the Crown of Monaco over two opposing letters R on a white background, was the personal flag of Prince Rainier III, and was only used in his immediate presence, particularly on cars in which he travelled. It was often seen with a gold fringe on the top, bottom, and right, which is one-ninth the height of the white field.

Presumably a new Princely Standard will be used by Prince Albert II.

Notes

1. Sources disagree as to the flag's usage. According to [2] it is ; according to the World Flag Database it is ; and according to Whitney Smith's Flags Through the Ages and Across the World (1975), it is .

Reference

• Explanation of the use of Monaco's various flags
• World Flag Database Monaco's flags at the World Flag Database