Two British kings, Edward VII and George V, loved yacht racing and used a special racing flag on their 121 feet cutter, the HMY “Britannia”. The flag is blue and red and has the Prince of Wales’s badge on it. Its design stems from the time before 1901 when Edward VII was the Prince of Wales for six decades.

A racing flag from the Royal Cutter Yacht “Britannia” was put up for auction recently. It stems from the Collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, died in 1972. The Duchess of Windsor, formerly Wallis Simpson, died in 1986.

The flag is estimated to having been manufactured around 1930. Its height is 50 3/4 inches (129 cm), its width 71 1/2 inches (182 cm). The flag is fitted with a rope and toggle and it has been framed.

According to the lot description the flag is pieced wool bunting, with the Prince of Wales feathers on a blue and red ground, machine stitched. Three white ostrich feathers emerging from a golden coronet with the motto ICH DIEN (German: I serve) has been the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales for more than 500 years.

Racing flags of this design may have been used onboard the “Britannia” during the entire lifespan of the Royal Cutter Yacht. Several examples of the Prince of Wales’s Racing Flag from HMY “Britannia” have been preserved.

The vessel was built in 1893 for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and it was also used and loved by his son King George V. His dying wish was for his yacht to be sunk off the Isle of Wight following his death in 1936.

The Royal Cutter Yacht “Britannia” had a long and illustrious racing career. It took part in no less than 635 races from 1893 till 1935 and won 231 first prices. During the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 till 1910, it was only used for cruising. The younger and much larger Royal Yacht which was in service from 1954 till 1997 shared the name: HMY “Britannia”.