Flag of Monaco

Meaning and history of the flag of Monaco

Monaco's flag consists of two equal horizontal stripes, red on top and white below. It was officially adopted on April 4, 1881, under Prince Charles III, though red and white had already served as the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi since at least the 13th century.

Red and white come from the Grimaldi family's coat of arms, which shows a diamond (lozenge) pattern in these two colors and which has ruled the principality since 1297. The colors carry no additional symbolism beyond their direct link to the ruling dynasty, representing the monarchical continuity of one of Europe's oldest states.

Monaco's flag is identical to Indonesia's, the only technical difference being proportions: Monaco's flag has a ratio of 4:5, while Indonesia's is 2:3. This coincidence sparked diplomatic controversy, particularly when Indonesia adopted its flag in 1945. Poland's flag is visually similar as well, but with the colors reversed, white on top and red below.

You can view the flag of Monaco in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Monaco profile, its map, or the current local time in Monaco.