Flag of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

The Union Flag is used in Akrotiri and Dhekelia for official purposes.

Akrotiri and Dhekelia has no flag of its own and as a result is represented by the flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack. Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, are a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus that comprise two military bases and their hinterland.

History

The flag of British Cyprus

The island of Cyprus was a British protectorate 1878-1914, under British military administration 1914-1922, then a Crown Colony 1922-1960. From 1922, the colonial flag of British Cyprus was in use throughout the island, including the areas now comprising Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Upon Cypriot independence in 1960, when the colonial flag ceased to have official usage, the territory of the Sovereign Base Areas was also established. However, no distinctive flag was created for Akrotiri and Dhekelia and no grant of arms by the College of Arms on which to base a Blue Ensign-type flag common to most British Overseas Territories.[1] As a result, the Union Jack became the flag of Akrotiri and Dhekelia by default.[2]

The Union Jack is flown over all official buildings in Akrotiri and Dhekelia as well as at border checkpoints. The Royal Air Force Ensign was sometimes used as a de facto flag locally because the Royal Air Force ran the bases and also because of local sensitivity towards the Union Jack.[1]

Akrotiri and Dhekelia is one of only two British Overseas Territories without an official flag, the other being Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.[3][4]

Other flags

The Dhekelia Garrison flag

A green flag charged with two gold lions is often cited as an unofficial flag of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.[5][6] This is the flag used by the Dhekelia Garrison, itself derived from the colonial flag of Cyprus. The two lions are from King Richard I of England's coat of arms, because of his conquest and creation of the Kingdom of Cyprus. The gold lions on green are widely used within the territory; they also appear on the coat of arms of the King Richard School[7] and on the flag of the Dhekelia Sailing Club.[8]

Though the flag of the Republic of Cyprus has no official status in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, it is used by some local residents[9] and is occasionally flown as a courtesy foreign flag.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cyprus: Sovereign Base Areas (United Kingdom)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  2. ↑ "Dhekelia". CIA World Facbook. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  3. ↑ "Parliament Square Flags". The Flag Institute. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  4. ↑ "Infrastructure Update". The Islander. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  5. ↑ "Akrotiri und Dhekelia". Retrieved 2015-01-25.
  6. ↑ "Akrotiri and Dhekelia". Retrieved 2015-01-25.
  7. ↑ "Home". King Richard School. 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  8. ↑ "New Constitution" (PDF). Dhekelia Sailing Club. 2007. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  9. ↑ "Cyprus flag". Marconis-institute.com. 1960-08-16. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
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