Flag of Monaco facts for kids
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| Use | National flag    |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 4:5 |
| Adopted | 4 April 1881 |
| Design | A horizontal bicolour of red and white |
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Variant flag of Monaco
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| Use | State and war flag, state and naval ensign  |
| Design | A white field with the coat of arms charged at the center |
Variant flag of Monaco
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| Use | National flag and civil ensign |
| Design | A white field with red lozenges |
The national flag of the Principality of Monaco is a simple but important symbol. It has two equal stripes, one red on top and one white on the bottom. These colors, red and white, have been special to the House of Grimaldi, Monaco's ruling family, since at least the year 1339. The flag you see today was officially chosen on April 4, 1881, by Prince Charles III.
Contents
The Flag of Monaco
What the Flag Looks Like
Monaco's flag is a bicolour flag. This means it has two colors. The top stripe is red, and the bottom stripe is white. These colors are very old and important to Monaco's history. They come from the family crest of the Grimaldi family.
History of Monaco's Flag
The first flag of Monaco looked a bit like the current one. It had an older version of the coat of arms on it. This flag was used for a long time, except when Monaco was part of France from 1793 to 1814. The simpler flag we know today was adopted in 1881.
There was another design used sometimes, especially in the 1600s. This flag showed diamond shapes in red and white. These diamond shapes are also part of the Grimaldi family's traditional colors. Even though it's not an official flag for any specific use, you might still see it in some old royal photos.
How Monaco's Flag Compares to Others
Monaco's flag looks a lot like the flag of Indonesia. Both flags have red and white horizontal stripes. However, there are small differences. Monaco's flag has a width-to-height ratio of 4:5, while Indonesia's is 2:3. Also, the red color on Monaco's flag is a bit darker.
The flag of Poland is also similar, but its colors are reversed. It has white on top and red on the bottom. The flag of Singapore also uses red and white, but it has a white crescent moon and five white stars on the red stripe.
The Prince's Special Flags
The Princely Flag
Monaco also has a special flag called the princely flag, or government flag. This flag shows the full coat of arms of Monaco on a white background. You can see this flag flying at the Prince's palace. It is also used at government offices and when government officials are present. The Prince's yacht also flies this flag as an ensign.
Prince Albert II's Personal Flag
Prince Albert II has his own personal flag. This flag has the Crown of Monaco above two letters "A" facing each other, all on a white background. This flag is only used when the Prince is very close by. For example, you might see it on cars he is traveling in. Sometimes, this flag has a gold border on the top, bottom, and right sides.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Mónaco para niños
