The Flag of The Pitcairn Islands
The flag of the Pitcairn Islands is a Blue Ensign design, which features the Union Jack in the canton and the coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands in the fly. The coat of arms includes a shield depicting the island's rocky landscape and the Bounty, the ship associated with the islands' initial settlement, along with a wheelbarrow, slipway, and anchor. Above the shield, there is a helmet and a green flowering miro (a Pacific plant), symbolizing the island's flora.
History of The Flag of The Pitcairn Islands
The flag of the Pitcairn Islands was adopted on April 2, 1984. The history of the flag is deeply intertwined with the history of the Pitcairn Islands themselves, which were settled in 1790 by mutineers from the HMS Bounty and their Tahitian companions. The design reflects the island's British colonial heritage, represented by the Union Jack, and its unique history and geography, represented by the coat of arms. The introduction of the flag was part of a wider initiative in the late 20th century to provide distinct flags for the British Overseas Territories, affirming their identities and connections to the United Kingdom.