The introduction of the new Sovereign’s Flag for Canada brings Canada in line with normal heraldic practices.
The Queen’s Standard was The Royal Arms of Canada[1], surmounted by Her Majesty’s own device (a hurt charged with the capital letter “E” ensigned by the Royal Crown, the whole encircled by a chaplet of roses leaved Or.[2] Prior to this standard’s appearance in 1962, there had been no difference from the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. The unique device of the late Queen added an individual aspect not normally associated with heraldic standards.
It should be remembered that flags bearing arms are not unique to Monarchs and their families but are also permitted for many who have been granted arms if they should so choose including many Canadians. The practice is to take the shield of the arms and transpose them over the flag so that they fit in rectangular proportions. Four of Canada’s Provinces developed their flags in this matter. Another four provinces and two territories include the shield in their flags.
The new Royal Standard is simply the Royal Arms of Canada. This does mean that the Standard will not require any additional modifications for future Canadian Monarchs. Besides the obvious logistical benefits, this does accomplish one very important objective. The Royal Standard can never be flown at half mast, because the Sovereign is always living. The second that the Queen breathed her last breath, the Prince of Wales became King. In the United Kingdom, the Royal Standard and the Royal Arms as far as the shield is concerned have not changed since Queen Victoria began her reign in 1837.[3] This meant that those arms and standards were passed to the King.
The Royal Arms can never fly at half-mast, because the Sovereign always lives. This is representative of the stability of the nation. In a sense: The Queen is dead, we will carry on, long live the King. The King in his capacity as the King of Canada, is the foundation of our Westminster System, or to quote Stephen Harper from a tweet the day of the Coronation “The institution of the Canadian Crown is the bedrock upon which Canada’s parliamentary democracy rests.” The Monarch represents a sense of stability in a nation that is often plagued by minority governments and constant elections. Now, for 70 years, the people of Canada knew that in the form of Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps, some of us somehow thought that she would live forever. But that is not the case. Just as the nation is more than one person, the Monarchy is more than just the current Monarch.
That is why the new Royal Standard is so important. It represents the stability of the Canadian Crown, which in a sense represents the nation itself. This change will avoid the awkward intermission period between Royal Standards. For example, had His Majesty been in Canada when the Queen died, there would not have been a Royal Standard to fly in his presence. There was in this case ample time to design the new standard, given the fact that no Royal visit occurred in the interim.
There are some from our “Greatest Generation” still with us, who may appreciate the use of the Royal Arms, as they were included in the Canadian Red Ensign which flew over Canada from 1922-1965.[4] This of course was our flag during the Second World War, which is why it is held in affection by many who remember those days.
The new standard is very similar to the Coronation Standard that was used for George VI and Elizabeth II, except that the maple leafs were Vert as opposed to Gules.[5]
[1] Tierced in fesse the first and second divisions containing the quarterly coat following, namely, 1st, gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or, 2nd, Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory gules, 3rd, azure a harp Or stringed argent, 4th, azure, three fleurs-de-lis Or, and the third division argent three maple leaves conjoined on one stem proper
[2] Canadian Heraldic Authority -Queen Elizabeth II – Registration of the Flag of Her Majesty the Queen for personal use in Canada, March 15, 2005, Vol. IV, p. 458
[3] Elizabeth II did request changes to the visual representation of the Irish Harp
[4] With some modifications
[5] Displayed green instead of red.
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