Flag of Great Nortend

Great Nortend

Name	Great Cross of the Realm
Use	National flag
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	March 23, 1870
Design	A red cross on a white cross on a red field.
Designed by	Sir Almandy Fleurin, Lamanus King of Arms
Variant flag of Great Nortend
Name	War Cross (informal)
Use	War flag
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	7 June 1888
Design	The Great Cross with a swart cross instead of red

The national flag of Great Nortend is, by proclamation, a rectangular flag known as the Great Cross of the Realm. Its design includes the Arms of St Christopher, the patron saint of Hambria with the Cross of St George, one of the two patron saints of the province of Nortend, superimposed on top. This consists of a red field with a centred broad white cross reaching to the edges, with a narrower red cross also reaching to the edges above. An often-seen variant has a dark blue or swart cross instead of a red cross, sometimes explained as being the cross of St Edmund. This is commonly known as the War Cross as is used as the flag of the armed forces. However, it is also in common civilian use.

The design of the Great Cross was first used officially during the reign of Alexander I, as the first King of Nortend, Cardoby and Hambria as part of the insignia of the Alexanderine Service Order. It was later adopted in 1870 by Henry VI. The War Cross was adopted in 1888.

Protocol

The Great Cross and War Cross are highly distinctive symbols of Great Nortend. By an order of the Privy Council, the Great Cross must be flown at all manned government buildings or establishments, unless impracticable, and the War Cross at any military or naval establishments. For example, six Great Crosses and one War Cross are flown from the roofs of the main Government buildings at Fettercourt in Lendert-with-Cadell, as well as numerous on flagpoles along the facade. The highest flagpole is reserved, however, for the Royal Standard when it is flown instead.

Along with other heraldic and flag-like banners, standards and colours, it is often hung up, paraded and used more generally as a patriotic symbol by civilians and the armed forces. Notably, the annual King's Day celebrations on Whit Monday every year commonly involve parades of hundreds of Great Crosses and variations, along with other Royal banners.

It is a felony to damage intentionally the Great Cross or War Cross.

Raising and lowering

The Great Cross and War Cross must generally be raised and lowered daily when flying from a flagpole. In the military and navy, this is usually accompanied by a fanfare or other musical call.

Generally it is the custom to roll the flag into a cylinder tied in the centre when not in use.

Mourning

The flag is flown at half mast on certain mourning days as well, including:

• From the death of the Sovereign until the formal Accession of the new sovereign.
• From the death of a member of the Royal Family until the day of his funeral.
• From the death of the Archbishop of Sulthey until the day of his funeral.
• On the death of the Archbishop of Limmes or of Rhise.
• On the death of the present or former Officer of State.
• On the death of some foreign Sovereigns.

When it is not possible to fly at half mast, owing to the flag being indoors and fixed or if its staff is too short, a black ribbon is tied at the top of the mast.

Other flags

Flag	Name	Use
	Royal Banner	Heraldic banner of the Sovereign.
	Great Cross	National flag.
	War Cross	Flag of the Royal Army and Navy Royal.
	Square Jack	Civil maritime jack.
	War Jack	Naval jack by the Navy Royal.
	Red Ensign	Civil purposes.
	Red War Ensign	Military purposes.
	Blue Ensign	Civil maritime purposes.
	Blue War Ensign	Naval purposes.

Marine and air ensigns

All merchant vessels, commercial vessels, and pleasure craft registered in Great Nortend are required to fly Blue Ensign at the stern during the daylight hours. Similarly, all aircraft registered in Great Nortend are required to fly the Blue Ensign from the cockpit during daylight hours when on the ground. Certain yacht clubs and flying clubs are entitled to fly a defaced Blue Ensign.

Vessels owned and operated by government ministries or departments such as those of Customs, the Post Office and the Trade Office fly a Blue Ensign defaced with a departmental badge. A plain Blue Ensign is flown by warranted harbourmasters and certain other officials. Similar flags are flown on land by government departments.

All Navy Royal vessels fly the Blue War Ensign at the stern, with the Square Jack as jack when moored or anchored.