Royal Standard of the Netherlands

Royal Standard of the Netherlands.
Changes in the Royal Standard before, and after the accession of Willem-Alexander.

The Royal Standard of the Netherlands is the official flag of the Dutch monarch. This standard is a non-personal distinctive flag for the Sovereign of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Non-personal means that it is not changed from reign to reign.

The Royal Standard is a square orange flag, divided in four quarters by a nassau-blue cross. These colours refer to the principality of Orange (in France) and the principality of Nassau (in Germany) from which the present royal family originates. In the centre of the flag is the lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom, which originates from the Nassau arms, surmounted by a royal crown and surrounded by the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Military William Order. Each quarter shows a bugle-horn which originates in arms of the principality of Orange.

The Royal Standard is flown above Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague (the King's private residence) and above Noordeinde Palace in The Hague (the King's official residence) when the Sovereign is in the Netherlands, but not necessarily when he is actually resident. Besides these two residences, the Royal Standard is flown on other palaces, castles or estates where and when the King is actually staying.

Standards of other members of the Royal Family

The following members of the Royal Family have personal standards:

Standard Member of the Royal Family Description
Máxima of the Netherlands
Máxima uses a square and swallow tailed flag, with the colours of her husband's flag reversed (as consort) and her husband's maternal arms (horn of Orange) in the upper hoist and husband's paternal arms (the tower of Von Amsberg), in the lower hoist as difference. The arms of the Netherlands (which originates from Nassau) without the insignia of the Order of Willem in the cross.
Prince of the Netherlands
(Sons of Beatrix)
Constantijn and formally Friso
As princes of the Netherlands he uses a 5:6 rectangular flag with the Royal standard colours and their maternal arms (the horn of Orange) and their paternal arms (the white tower of Von Amsberg) as difference. The arms of the Netherlands (which originates from Nassau) without the insignia of the Order of Willem within an orange circle.
Laurentien of Orange-Nassau
As princess, Laurentien uses a square and swallow tailed ones, with the colours of her husband's flag reversed (as consort) and her husband's maternal arms (horn of Orange) in the upper hoist and a reference to her paternal descent (the lozenge from the Arms of Wognum in West-Friesland), in the lower hoist as difference. The arms of the Netherlands (which originates from Nassau) without the insignia of the Order of Willem in the cross.
Princess of the Netherlands
(Daughters of Juliana)
Beatrix, Irene, Margriet and Christina
As princesses of the Netherlands they use a square and swallow tailed flag, with the Royal standard colours and their maternal arms (the horn of Orange) in the upper hoist and their paternal arms (the rose of Lippe) in the lower hoist. The arms of the Netherlands (which originates from Nassau) without the insignia of the Order of Willem within an orange circle.
Prince of Orange-Nassau
(Sons of Margriet)
Maurits, Bernhard, Pieter-Christiaan and Floris
As princes of Orange-Nassau they use a 5:6 rectangular flag with the Royal standard colours and their maternal arms (the horn of Orange) and their paternal arms (the white six pointed star of Van Vollenhoven). The arms of the Netherlands (which originates from Nassau) without the insignia of the Order of Willem within an orange circle.

Historical Standards

Standard Use Description
Royal Standard of the Netherlands
(1815–1908)
The historical Royal Standard of the Netherlands was a rectangular flag with the colours of the national flag with the former version of the Royal coat of arms (without the mantle) in the central band.

Variants for the members of the Royal Family

Standard Use Description
Prince of the Netherlands
(1898–1908)
The former Standard for the Princes of the Netherlands was a flag with the colours of the historical Royal Standard of the Netherlands with the Royal coat of arms in an orange rectangle at the central band.
Princess of the Netherlands
(1898–1908)
The former Standard for the Princesses of the Netherlands was a swallow tailed flag, with the colours of the historical Standard of the Netherlands with the Royal coat of arms in an orange rectangle at the central band.

Juliana of Orange-Nassau

Standard Use Description
Princess of the Netherlands
(1909–1948 / 1980–2004)
As princess, Juliana used a square and swallow tailed orange flag, divided in four quarters by a nassau-blue cross. In the centre of the flag is a small arms of the Netherlands without the insignia of the Order of Willem within an orange circle. in the upper hoist her maternal arms (the horn of Orange) and her paternal arms (a black bull with white horns, a red tongue and a golden crown, from the arms of Mecklenburg) in the lower hoist.

Claus of Amsberg

Standard Use Description
Prince Consort of the Netherlands
(1980–2002)
A quadrangle in Nassau blue bearing an orange cross. First and third quarters adorned by the Dutch Lion of the coat of arms of The Netherlands. Second and fourth quarters adorned by the white castle tower from the coat of arms of the House of Amsberg. Centered upon the cross is the coat of arms of The Netherlands, topped by a royal crown.

Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

Standard Use Description
Prince Consort of the Netherlands
(1948–1980)
A quadrangle bearing an orange cross. First and third quarters in Nassau blue, adorned by the Dutch Lion from the national coat of arms. Second and fourth quarters are white, adorned by the five-leafed rose with golden sepals from the coat of arms of the House of Lippe. Centered upon the cross is the coat of arms of The Netherlands, topped by a royal crown.

Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Standard Use Description
Prince Consort of the Netherlands
(1908–1934)
A quadrangle bearing an orange cross. First and third quarters in Nassau blue, adorned by the Dutch Lion from the national coat of arms. Second and fourth quarters are Azure, adorned by a griffin passant Or langed Gules of the House of Mecklenburg. Centered upon the cross is the coat of arms of The Netherlands, topped by a royal crown.

Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont

Standard Use Description
Queen Mother of the Netherlands
(1908–1934)
She used a square and swallow tailed orange flag, divided in four quarters by a nassau-blue cross. In the centre of the flag is a small arms of the Netherlands without the insignia of the Order of Willem within an orange circle. Each quarter shows a bugle-horn which originates in arms of the principality of Orange.

Sources

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