Explaining the Scottish Flag

Saint Andrew’s Cross

St Andrew’s Cross / Saltire

The famous Scottish Saltire – the blue flag with a white diagonal cross – is one of the oldest flags in Europe and the Commonwealth. The diagonal cross is said to signify the cross used to crucify Saint Andrew in Greece in 60CE. The first recorded use of the Saltire as a heraldic flag dates back to 1542, but its significance extends much further back into Scotland’s history.

Why is the Scottish flag called a ‘saltire’?

The meaning of ‘saltire’ is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross [X] that usually occupies the entire field in which it is placed. The word ‘saltire’ comes from the Old French sautoir or sautour meaning ‘stirrup’, and the Latin salire meaning ‘to leap’. The connection between the stirrups and the diagonal cross is understood to be the triangular shapes that comprise the cross.

The saltire design appears in many flags, such as Jamaica’s, as well as coats of arms and seals. For example, the Saint Patrick’s cross is a red cross on a white background, and the naval ensign of Russia is a blue saltire on a white field.

The Lion Rampant

The Lion Rampant, Royal Banner of Scotland

This striking flag is the Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland. The red lion is standing on its hind legs, ready to strike, surrounded by a double red border set with red lilies, on a golden-yellow background. The lion traditionally symbolises strength, valour, courage, and nobility.

The design is associated with the Latin motto Nemo me impune lacessit which means ‘no one attacks me with impunity’. Or, in Scots, Wha daur meddle wi’ me? meaning ‘Who dares to meddle with me?’.

Some say the Lion Rampant has been used in Scotland as a heraldic symbol since the early 12th century. In the 13th century, Kings Alexander II and Alexander III used it as a royal emblem, and it later occupied the shield in the Royal Coat of Arms for the ancient Kingdom of Scotland.

It was incorporated into the Royal Arms of England following the Union of Crowns in 1603, and the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom after the Act of Union in 1707. Since then, the Lion Rampant has always been used by the UK monarchy to symbolise Scotland in its heraldry.

Who Can Fly the Saint Andrew’s Cross?

Any individual, company, local authority, hospital, or school may fly the Scottish flag at any time. Wherever possible, the Scottish Government flies the Scottish flag on all of its buildings from 8.00am until sunset daily.

The Saltire is often displayed in many different situations by British military operations on land, including being incorporated into badge designs and squadron crests.

Who Can Fly the Lion Rampant?

Usage of this banner is more restricted than that of the Saltire. It belongs to King Charles III and is flown at the Scottish royal residences of Holyrood Palace, in Edinburgh, and Balmoral Castle, when King Charles III is not in residence. When he is present, the Lion Rampant is swapped for the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, which features a Lion Rampant in the second quadrant, along with the three gold lions of England in the first and fourth quadrant and the gold harp of Ireland in the third quadrant.

The banner may also be flown by any of His Majesty’s Great Officers who represent the monarchy in Scotland, such as the Lord Lieutenants, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Lord Lyon King of Arms. You may also see hand-held flags at state occasions or important sporting events.

Scotland’s symbolic landscape goes way beyond the iconic Saltire flag. From the wild beauty of thistles and Scots Pines to the mythical allure of unicorns, the country’s national identity is a vibrant tapestry of nature, folklore, and cultural pride. Throw in the unmistakable sound of bagpipes, a flash of tartan, and maybe a cheeky can of Irn-Bru or a nod to Ewan McGregor, and you’ve got a snapshot of a nation that’s equal parts rugged, romantic, and wonderfully quirky.