Thailand

Trivia

The Flag is called “Throng Trairong” which means tricolour.

Technical Specifications

Adopted	28th September 1917
Proportion	2:3
Design	A red-white-blue-white-red horizontal striped flag.

Brief History

The first flag adopted in Siam/Thailand was a plain red field. This flag was the ensign of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya from around 1351 and the Kingdom of Thonburi from 1768.

During the Rattanakosin period of Siam the flag was changed to a plain red field with a white Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu.

The Ensign of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya (1351 – 1767) The Ensign of the Kingdom of Thonburi (1768 – 1782) The Flag of the Kingdom of Siam (1700 – 1782)

The Ensign of Siam (1782 – 1817)

In 1817 a white elephant was placed inside the white chakra. The chakra was removed and the white elephant enlarged. This flag is called “Throng Chag” in Thai or “The Elephant Flag”.

The State of Ensign of Siam (1817 – 1855)

The Flag of Siam (1855 – 1916)

1916 green and red regalia were added to the white elephant, who now stands on a platform on the state flag. A new ensign was also adopted featuring five horizontal red-white-red-white-red band flag was adopted between 1916 and 1917. This flag is also the current civil flag.

The State Flag of Siam (1916 – 1917)

The State Flag of Siam (1916 – 1917) The Civil Flag of Thailand (1917)

From 1917 the flag of Thailand has been a red-white-blue-white-red horizontal striped flag. The change in the flag came after a large flood left the King’s flag hanging upside down and he decried that the country needed a new flag that would never hang upside down.

The Flag of Thailand (1917 to Present Day)

The Emblem of Thailand

The Emblem of Thailand was adopted in 1911. It is the Garuda, the vehicle of the god of Vishnu in flight. The variation of the flag includes broader wings and a green banner underneath.

The Emblem of Thailand

A Variation on the Emblem of Thailand

The Royal Standards of Thailand

The Royal Standard of the King of Thailand is a yellow square field with the national emblem in the centre. The Standard of the Queen adds a tail to the flag. The Standard of the Senior Members of the Royal Family was adopted in 1979 and is a yellow tailed flag with a blue square and images depicting the Royal crown above two bowls on a table with two royal umbrellas.

The Standard of the Crown Prince of Thailand is a blue bordered Standard of the King. The Royal Consort’s flag adds a swallowtail.

The Standard of the Princes in the Charki Dynasty is a blue field with a yellow circle and Emblem of Thailand in the centre. The Standard of the princesses adds a swallow tail.

The Standard of the Regent of Thailand is a white field with a shield of the national flag in the centre with the emblem above.

The Personal Flag of the HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej was adopted in 1946. It is a yellow field with a Royal Cypher below the Great Crown of Victory supported by the Symbol of Aum.

The Personal Flag of HM Queen Sirikit was adopted in 1950 and features a white field with the Royal Cypher below the Great Crown of Victory.

The Governmental Flags of Thailand

The Flag of the Prime Minister of Thailand is a white field with the Prime Minster’s seal below the Royal Crown.

The Flag of the Minister of Defence of Thailand is a white field with the Red Chakra, Blue Anchor and Sky Blue Wings of the Army, Navy and Air Force below the Royal Crown.

The Flag of the Prime Minister of Thailand (1936 to Present Day)

The Flag of the Minister of Defence of Thailand (1979 to Present Day)

The Flags of The Thai Royal Army

The Flag of the Royal Thai Army is a plain red field with the Emblem of the Army below the Royal Crown.

The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army is the Royal Army flag with five five-pointed gold stars under the emblem.

The Flag of the Royal Thai Army (1979 to Present Day)

The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (1979 to Present Day)

The Flags of The Thai Royal Navy

The Flag of the Royal Thai Navy is the Navy Emblem below a Royal Crown inside a white disc on a navy blue field.

The Naval Jack of the Royal Thai Navy is the national flag defaced by the Navy Emblem and the Royal Crown.

The Ensign of the royal Thai Navy is the national flag with a red disc and white elephant in the centre.

The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy is a navy blue field with the Emblem and Crown in the centre.

The Flags of the Royal Thai Air Force

The Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force was adopted in 1979 and features a sky blue field with yellow wings and Royal Crown. The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force adds a shield made of the national flag and a yellow border.

The Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force (1979 to Present Day)

The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (1979 to Present Day)

The Religious Flags of Thailand

The Flag of the Bhuddishim in Thailand is a yellow field with red Dharmacakra in the centre. The Flag of Christianity in Thailand is a red cross on a white field. The Flag of Islam in Thailand is a black field with Arabic text known as the Jihad Flag.