🇲🇹 The colours of Malta

Malta’s flag is divided into white and red, with a small George Cross outlined in red on the white half. The red is a specific shade, and the colours are linked to Malta’s history and the Knights of Malta. The George Cross honours bravery during World War II.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• Malta’s flag is the only national flag with English text.
• The George Cross was awarded to Malta in 1942 for bravery.
• The red on the flag is officially defined as Pantone 186 C.
• The flag’s colours likely come from the Knights of Malta.
• Malta’s flag once had a blue canton, removed after independence.

The colours of the flag of Malta

The Maltese flag is split vertically: white next to the flagpole, red on the outer side. In the upper corner of the white half sits the George Cross, edged in red, which was awarded to Malta for its courage in World War II. The choice of red and white is rooted in tradition and history, with the red being a particular shade officially specified. The meanings of the colours are mostly historical, tied to Malta’s past and the influence of the Knights of Malta. The George Cross is an official symbol, while the colour meanings are based on tradition.

How the colours were chosen of Malta

Stories once claimed that Malta’s colours came from Roger I of Sicily in 1091, but this has been shown to be a later invention. The red and white standard was already used by Maltese rebels in 1798. The most likely source of the colours is the flag of the Knights of Malta, which featured a white cross on a red background. During British rule, these colours appeared on Malta’s shield. The George Cross was added to the flag in 1943, first on a blue background, then moved to its current position with a red outline after independence in 1964.

Official shades and rules of Malta

Malta’s constitution states that the white side must always be next to the flagpole, with red on the outer edge. The red is officially defined as Pantone 186 C, with a specific RGB and hex code. The George Cross must be outlined in red. These details set the exact look of the flag.