Flag of the Cayman Islands

Flag of the Cayman Islands

Overview

Country Cayman Islands
Adopted 1958
Aspect ratio 1:2
Colors
(3)
Elements Cross, coat of arms

Description

A blue field serves as the background, with the Union Jack positioned in the canton. Centered on the fly half is the territory's coat of arms, which consists of a shield topped by a crest featuring a turtle and a pineapple. Red and white accents appear within the British flag and the detailed heraldic shield.

Symbolism

Three green stars set against wavy blue and white lines represent the trio of islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Positioned at the top of the shield, a gold lion symbolizes the British crown and the islands' status as a British Overseas Territory. Seafaring history is represented by a green turtle perched on a rope coil, while a pineapple signifies the historical administrative connection to Jamaica. Below the shield, the motto 'He hath founded it upon the seas' reflects the territory's Christian heritage and maritime location.

History

Formal adoption of the current design took place on May 14, 1958, after the islands received their official coat of arms via Royal Warrant. Before this period, the territory was administered as a dependency of Jamaica and utilized the British Blue Ensign. Significant updates occurred in 1999, when the white disc surrounding the coat of arms was removed and the size of the emblem was increased for better visibility. These changes were part of a broader standardization of flags for British Overseas Territories.