Flag of Queensland
The state flag of Queensland is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge on a white disc in the fly. The badge is a light blue Maltese Cross with an imperial crown in the centre of the cross. The flag dates from 1876, with minor variations, and the badge was designed by William Hemmant, the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer of Queensland in 1876.
Previous flags
The first flag of Queensland was adopted in 1870. It was a defaced British Blue Ensign with a portrait profile of Queen Victoria on a blue disc, surrounded by a white annilus on which the word "Queensland" appeared in gold at the top of the annulus in the fly.
Queensland adopted a second flag in 1876, the previous colonial badge having proved difficult to reproduce on large flags. The depictions of the imperial crown have varied in accordance with heraldic fashion and the wishes of the monarch of the time. During Queen Victoria's reign, the imperial crown had slightly dipped arches. From c. 1901-1952, during the reigns of Kings Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI the depiction of the imperial crown known as the "Tudor crown", with domed arches, was used. During this period the Maltese Cross, initially dark blue, began to be depicted in light blue. The shade of blue, not being heraldically significant, is unlikely to have been laid down when the flag was adopted.
The current depiction of the imperial crown in the state badge is based on the St. Edward's Crown, and was changed in 1953 along with imperial crowns in flags and coats of arms across the Commonwealth of Nations in accordance with the wishes of Queen Elizabeth II.