Flag of Malta
Two vertical halves, white at the hoist and red at the fly. A picture of the George Cross, edged in red, is in the upper hoist corner of the white half.
What the flag means
The white and red have no official meaning. A tradition links them to Count Roger I of Sicily in 1091, but that story dates from the 19th century. King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta on 15 April 1942 in recognition of the islands' courage in the Second World War.
History
The George Cross was first added to the white and red flag on 28 December 1943, on a blue canton. When Malta became independent on 21 September 1964, the blue canton was replaced by a thin red edge around the cross. The Constitution of Malta defines the flag, and graphical specifications issued in 2008 under Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi set the red as Pantone 186 C.
The George Cross on the flag carries the words 'For Gallantry', which makes Malta's the only national flag with English text on it.
Earlier flags of Malta
- 1943–1964White and red with the George Cross on a blue canton
Sources
- Wikipedia: Flag of Malta
- Flags of the World: Malta
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Read how we research flags in our editorial policy, or report a mistake.
