Flag of the Kingdom of France

What the flag looks like

A white field strewn with gold fleurs-de-lis, with the royal arms in the center: a blue shield with three gold fleurs-de-lis under the royal crown, held by two angels and encircled by the collars of the Orders of Saint Michael and the Holy Spirit.

What it means

White was the color of the French monarchy, and three gold fleurs-de-lis on blue had been the arms of the kings of France since the Middle Ages.

How to remember it

Royal France is a white flag sprinkled with gold lilies around a crowned blue shield held up by two angels; the Revolution swapped it for the blue-white-red tricolor.

Fun facts

• The Order of the Holy Spirit, whose collar hangs around the shield, was founded by Henry III in 1578 and was the highest order of chivalry in the French monarchy.
• A royal restoration in 1873 failed partly because the Count of Chambord, the Bourbon claimant, refused to give up the white flag for the tricolor.

Kingdom of France at a glance

Existed

987–1792

Flag used

c. 1638–1790

Restored

1814–1848

Capital

Paris

Region

987–1792

Languages

French

Flag adopted

c. 1638