Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox flag
|Name = British Indian Ocean Territory
|Image = Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg
|Use =
|Symbol =
|Proportion = 1:2
|Adoption = {{start date and age|1990|11|08|df=y}}
|Design = A Blue Ensign with 7 wavy white stripes, with a palm tree on the hoist side and a crown over it.
}}
The flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is similar to the flags of other British dependencies and colonies as it has the Union Flag in the upper hoist-side corner. The palm tree and crown are symbols of the Indian Ocean Territory. The flag was initially intended to be used by the Commissioner but has gained semi-official status as a territorial flag for use on land.{{Cite web|title=FOTW|url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/io.html#descr}}
Overview
The flag contains the Union Flag in its canton (upper hoist quarter). It depicts the waters of the Indian Ocean, where the islands are located, in the form of white and blue wavy lines.{{cite web|title=British Indian Ocean Territory Map and Information Page|url=http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/biot.htm|website=WorldAtlas.com|access-date=27 January 2016}} The flag also depicts a palm tree rising above the St Edward's Crown. It is understood that the flag, which was granted by Queen Elizabeth II on the 25th anniversary of the BIOT in 1990,[http://www.cwphonecards.io/Phonecards/Series5.html Official BIOT Emblems] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062257/http://www.cwphonecards.io/Phonecards/Series5.html |date=2007-09-30 }}. Cable and Wireless Diego Garcia. Accessed 1 February 2007. is that of the Commissioner and has only semi-official status.
Given that it is impossible for civilians to visit the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is not clear how widely this flag is used. However, a video released by the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia shows a scene where the flag is being flown on land within the territory.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060928233641/http://www.dg.navy.mil/web/2006/downloads/Command_video/Command%20Video%20New%20Version.wmv Command Video]. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. Accessed 28 August 2006. The only settlements on the Islands are the Anglo-American naval and air facilities.
The flag does indeed fly at Diego Garcia, along with the American Flag. Both are lowered at the end of the duty day.
The flag was designed for the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.[http://flagspot.net/flags/io.html#descr Flags of the World – British Indian Ocean Territory]. Accessed 28 August 2006 The Commissioner is based at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/british-indian-ocean-territory/ CIA – The World Factbook – British Indian Ocean Territory]. Accessed 28 August 2006
Other images
{{Gallery
|title=
|width=230 | height=160 |align=center
|footer=
|File:Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory 1990.svg|The flag as used in 1990
|File:BIOT flag flying at full mast.jpg|The flag flying on Diego Garcia
|File:Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory (8166415481) (rotated & cropped).jpg
|The flag flying on the Foreign Office building in London, November 2012.}}
References
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External links
{{commons category|Flags of the British Indian Ocean Territory}}
{{British dependencies flags}}
{{Asia topic|Flag of|title=Flags of Asia}}
{{Union Flag}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:British Indian Ocean Territory, Flag of the}}