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Flags, Symbols & Currency of British Virgin Islands

Flags, Symbols & Currency of British Virgin Islands

The Flag of the British Virgin Islands was officially adopted on November 15, 1960.

The Flag of British Virgin Islands features a blue background with the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack) in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands centered in the outer half of the flag. The Union Jack alludes to the link between the British Empire and the Virgin Islands. The coat of arms depicts a white-robed woman (Saint Ursula) holding a lighting gold oil lamp and flanked on either side by a vertical column of six lit oil lamps. The vertical column containing a total of 12 oil lamps (11 in the columns + 1 in hand) symbolizes the 11,000 followers of Saint Ursula. Below the coat of arms is a scroll bearing the Latin word, “VIGILATE” (Be vigilant). The islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers who reportedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century. The flag has a width-to-length proportion ratio of 1:2.

Historical and Other Flags of British Virgin Islands

Flag of British Virgin Islands (as part of British Leeward Islands)

Blue field with Union Jack on upper hoist and seal on fly

Symbols of British Virgin Islands

The Coat of Arms of British Virgin Islands

The Coat of Arms of The British Virgin Islands was adopted in 1960. It comprises of a shield with a green background, on which is depicted a white-robed woman (Saint Ursula) holding a lighted oil lamp and flanked on either side by a vertical column of six lit oil lamps. Thus, a total of 12 oil lamps (11 in the columns + 1 in hand) surrounding Saint Ursula symbolize the 11,000 followers of Saint Ursula. The islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers who reportedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century. Below the coat of arms is a yellow scroll bearing the Latin word in bold black letters: “VIGILATE” (Be vigilant).

National Motto

"Vigilate" ("Be Vigilant")

National Anthem

Being an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official national anthem of the British Virgin Islands.

However, a territorial anthem titled, "Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands" is generally sung. The music of the song and the lyrics have been created by Kareem Nelson Hull and Ayana Hull. The territorial anthem was adopted by the House Assembly of the Virgin Islands on July 24, 2012.