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Swaziland

Royal standard

The Royal Flag of Swaziland is the same as the national flag with the addition of a small gold lion centred on the upper blue stripe, facing away from the hoist. The lion is sideways on with three paws on the ground and one raised (statant).

The supporters of the state arms are a lion and an elephant. The former represents the king, the latter 'the great she-elephant', the queen mother. This is considered a very flattering description in Swazi: maybe it loses something in translation!

The lion on the flag seems to follows European heraldic conventions, so maybe one could say that this has been influenced by European traditions. Although since the lion isn't indigenous to Europe, I think we should say that Africa has influenced Europe on this occasion.

Stuart Notholt - 1996-04-08

Pre-independence flags

Prior to independence on 6 October 1968 Swaziland was a British Protectorate and as such flew the British Union Jack.

The Protectorate was administered through the Office of the High Commissioner in South Africa which was created by Letters Patent in 1878. The High Commissioner was charged with the conduct of British relations with the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State, as well as with "those native states and tribes outside the colonies of the Cape and Natal, including Swaziland" (which was administered by the Government of the South African Republic under the Convention of 1894). The High Commissioner was also Governor of Basutoland (now Lesotho) and supervised the affairs of the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) and Swaziland.

by Jaume Ollé

The High Commissioner flew a British Union Flag charged in the centre, on a white roundel, with the letters S.A.H.C. in black above which was a Tudor Crown, all within a green garland of laurel. This flag which was taken into use in 1907, is similar in design to that of the Western Pacific High Commissioner.

This flag was used until 1931 after which the posts of Governor-General and High Commissioner were separated. The Governor-General of South Africa would henceforth fly a royal blue flag bearing the Royal Crest with two scrolls inscribed "Union of South Africa" and "Unie van Suid-Afrika" respectively. The High Commissioner, based in South Africa, was represented by a Resident Commissioner in each of the High Commission Territorities (Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland). Of these, only the Resident Commissioner for Basutoland, which was a Crown Colony, had a personal flag. The other two territories were British Protectorates and thus their inhabitants were merely "protected persons".

The flag of the High Commissoner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland was a similiar design to that used previously by the South African High Commissoner, being a British Union Flag charged in the centre, on a white roundel, with the letters H.C. in black, above which was an Imperial Crown, all within a green garland of laurel.

Swaziland was the last of the High Commission territories to gain independence, after which the flag of the High Commissioner fell into abeyance.
Bruce Berry - 1998-02-13

Ngwane and KaNgwane

Swaziland was for some time also known as Ngwana, but an official name change was never carried through (ed.)

Is was assumed that the three British protectorates Bechuanaland, Basutholand, and Swaziland would change their names when independence is achieved. But the Swazi, apparently, were happy with their name.
By the way, there was a South African "homeland" called KaNgwane (where also Swazi are living).
Harald Müller - 20 March 1997

I think that 'Ngwane' is the SiSwati for Swaziland - wasn't the Swazi bantustan under apartheid called 'KaNgwane'?

Correct - the KaNgwane homeland was for the "Swazis" living in South Africa.
This was the only homeland NOT to have adopted its own flag during the apartheid era and only flew the South African flag.
KaNgwane has been re-incorporated into South Africa and is part of the new Mpumalanga province and is an area which is adjacent to the Swaziland border.
Bruce Berry - 20 March 1997