Royal Standard of Norway

The Royal Standard of Norway (Norwegian: Kongeflagge) is used by the King of Norway. Of historical origin, it was introduced by Cabinet Decision of 15 November 1905, following the plebiscite confirming the election of Prince Carl of Denmark to the vacant throne after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway. Under his chosen name of Haakon VII, the new king arrived in the capital Kristiania on 25 November 1905 on a ship flying the royal standard for the first time. That first royal standard was charged with a lion designed by the Danish expert on heraldry Anders Thiset, complying with the blazon decided by the Cabinet. It differed from the definitive version of the royal standard, which was charged with the lion designed by the painter Eilif Peterssen

The flag is the coat of arms of Norway in banner form. It is based on the 1905 version of the coat of arms, at least 750 years old. The present design of the coat of arms for government use was changed in 1937 to fit a medieval style, but the king has kept the 1905 design by Peterssen for the royal arms and standard.

The flag was referred to as the "ancient royal standard" of Norway when it was introduced. It is the earliest known flag of Norway, originally only a flag for the king, as it is today. During the early period of the union with Denmark, it was occasionally flown from castles and naval vessels until it was gradually phased out during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its earliest certain depiction is on the seal of Duchess Ingebjørg in 1318. In 1748 a decree stated that the Dannebrog should be the only legal merchant flag for ships of the united kingdoms of Denmark-Norway.

The flag of the King is also used by the Queen.

Between 1844 and 1905, the kings of Norway used a royal standard on the same pattern as Denmark and Sweden. It was a war flag with the union mark in the canton and the royal union arms in the centre of the cross.