Commonwealth Flag

Description

The Commonwealth flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Commonwealth Flag

The Commonwealth flag does not belong to a single nation. It represents the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association of 56 independent countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. Most members were once part of the British Empire, though several joined later with no colonial link to Britain at all. The flag is flown at the Commonwealth Secretariat, at Commonwealth Games venues and at events marking Commonwealth Day each March.

Colours and Symbolism

The Commonwealth flag is a deep blue field carrying a golden emblem at its centre: a stylised globe formed from rays spreading outward in every direction. The rays are meant to suggest the Commonwealth’s reach across every inhabited continent, and the connections between its member states through shared institutions, trade and sport. Blue was chosen as a neutral background rather than a colour tied to any one member, since the association includes republics, kingdoms and constitutional monarchies. Gold gives the emblem contrast and a sense of common purpose.

History of the Commonwealth Flag

The Commonwealth grew out of the British Empire, taking clearer shape after the 1931 Statute of Westminster and later agreements that let member states become republics while keeping their place in the association. Various emblems were used informally in the following decades before the current Commonwealth flag was formally adopted in 1973, alongside a wider modernisation of the organisation’s identity. The design has stayed unchanged since, even as membership expanded to include countries such as Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo and Gabon, none of which were ever British territories.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

Because the Commonwealth is an association of countries rather than a state itself, the Commonwealth flag is flown alongside national flags rather than instead of them. It appears outside the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, at high commissions, and at multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games. Many member countries raise it for Commonwealth Day, and civic buildings and schools across the Commonwealth, including in South Africa, sometimes display it during that observance. Standard flag protocol applies: it is flown below or beside a nation’s own flag, never above it.

Commonwealth Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Commonwealth flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Order Lead Times

Almost everything we make is freshly printed and made to order, just for you! So please allow 3–5 working days for us to prepare your order before it heads out the door. We’ll always try to get it to you sooner where we can. Some fast movers, like South African flags, ship quicker as they’re often in stock.

One quick thing to keep in mind: the “next working day” you see on your order confirmation is the courier’s delivery time from the day we dispatch — not from the day you place your order. So it’s really 3–5 days to prepare + next-day delivery.

Good things are worth the wait — we’re excited to get your order into your hands.

Additional information