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Flag of Greater London facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Flag of the City of London.

Greater London doesn't have one official flag. But the groups that have managed London over the years have used different flags and symbols.

History of London's Symbols

London County Council's Flag

The London County Council (LCC) was formed in 1889. In 1914, they got their own coat of arms. From 1923, they flew a flag with these arms at County Hall.

The coat of arms showed waves, which stood for the River Thames. It also had the flag of England and a lion. The lion showed that London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. A special crown, called a mural crown, was also part of the design.

Greater London Council's Flag

In 1965, the London County Council was replaced by the Greater London Council (GLC). This new council covered a bigger area of London. The GLC also received its own coat of arms and a flag.

Their design included parts from the old LCC arms, like the waves. It also had a Saxon crown, which came from the arms of Middlesex County Council.

Greater London Authority's Symbols

The Greater London Council was closed down in 1986. London didn't have a main local government until the Greater London Authority (GLA) was created in 2000.

At first, the GLA used a logo with a picture of the River Thames on a green circle. It also had the authority's name. Later, they changed to a simple word logo. It said "LONDON" with the letters "LOND" in blue and "ON" in red.

On January 31, 2020, a new flag started flying. It's a white flag with the word "LONDON" on it. The "O" letters look like globes, showing different parts of the world. Below the word "LONDON," it says "EVERYONE WELCOME" in smaller letters. This design came from a campaign started in 2016.

In February 2020, a member of the London Assembly, Tom Copley, suggested something important. He wanted the Mayor of London to ask for the old Greater London Council's coat of arms to be given to the Greater London Authority. All the assembly members agreed. The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, liked the idea. But he asked them to think about the cost first.

The person who leads the London Assembly wears a special badge. This badge used to be worn by the leader of the Greater London Council. It shows the GLC's coat of arms and the letters "GLC." The badge is made of 18-carat gold. It has 29 diamonds, pearls, and a hanging pearl.

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