Heraldic flag
![Banners of Knights of the Thistle displayed in St. Giles' Cathedral](/Images/godic/202502/02/Banners_of_Knights_of_the_Thistle1648.jpg")
![A Zechariah Seal flag.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Gomo1649.jpeg")
![Standard of Sir Henry de Stafford, about 1475, features the Stafford knot and Bohun swan heraldic badges differenced with a crescent gules for cadency. The standard bears the Cross of Saint George for England. Black and red (sable and gules) are Sir Henry's livery colours.[10]](/Images/godic/202502/02/Stafford_flag1649.png")
![An example of a standard suitable for a Scottish baronet (who is, in this case, also the chief of Clan Macdonald of Sleat).](/Images/godic/202502/02/Standard_of_Macdonald_of_Sleat.svg1649.png")
In heraldry and vexillology, a heraldic flag is any of several types of flags, containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices used for personal identification.
When it's for the personal use of a monarch, it's called royal standard.
Heraldic flags include banners, standards, pennons and their variants, gonfalons, guidons, and pinsels. Specifications governing heraldic flags vary from country to country, and have varied over time.