Royal Standard of Scotland
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Image:Balmoral flag.JPG
The Royal Standard of Scotland, also known as the Lion Rampant is a flag used historically by the Kings of Scotland. It is a banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland. The flag was adopted in the early 12th century by King William I of Scotland. The flag is a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter-flory on a yellow field
Following the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the flag became incorporated into the Royal Standard of Great Britain. Today the flag is still used officially by the British monarch and it flies over the Scottish Royal residencies at Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the Queen is not in residence. The flag may also be used by representatives of the crown, including the First Minister, Lord Lieutenants in their Lieutenancies, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Unofficially, the flag is used as a second national flag for Scotland, particularly at football matches. Technically this usage is illegal, although no one has ever been prosecuted for flying the Standard unofficially.
The flag also features in the Standard of the Duke of Rothesay, the title used by the eldest son of the monarch in Scotland.
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