The Scottish island of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides archipelago, traditionally part of Inverness-shire, has been associated with a green flag bearing a dark blue Nordic style cross, fimbriated (outlined) in white, for several years and this was formally registered by the Lord Lyon, Scotland’s heraldic authority, in 2017, an announcement being made on June 28th. The flag was duly added to the Flag Institute registry.
Whilst there is no definitive explanation for the design or its origin, as with the proposed Barra flag, the Scandinavian style cross reflects the territory’s inclusion in the mediaeval Norse “Kingdom of the Isles“. It may have arisen around 2003 as a proposed flag for the ‘Western Isles’ or from earlier internet based proposals. The design subsequently became well established in the ensuing decade and is evidently much used across the island.
