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The Flag Institute is an educational charity. Its constitution (adopted 17 November 2012) states that its objectives are; Its headquarters are at 38 Hill Street, Mayfair, London.
 * to maintain its role as the United Kingdom's recognised flag organisation;
 * to unite all those with a professional or personal interest in any aspect of flags and vexillology;
 * to educate and increase public awareness of flags and their usage;
 * to provide advice and guidance on flags and related matters to the public and organizations, bothe governmental and non-governmental;
 * to promote the study of the history, function, usage, symbolism and development of flags of all kinds; and the development of flag terminology, standards of usage, specifications, colours and descriptive terms.

History and role
The Institute was formed out of the Flag Section of The Heraldry Society on St George's Day, 23 April 1971, by William Crampton, later President of FIAV, with Captain E.M.C. Barraclough, CBE RN, as its Chairman. It is a membership-based vexillological organisation with over 500 members from all parts of the world, and provides advice and assistance to organisations including UK Government departments, the BBC, ITN, and many publishers, museums and libraries.

The Institute maintains the William Crampton Library, based in Kingston upon Hull, England and named in honour of its co-founder. Comprising over 40,000 flag related volumes it is thought to be one of the largest vexillology-based libraries in the world. It publishes a quarterly 24 page full colour journal, Flagmaster, and a virtual magazine called eFlags. Since 2006 it has sponsored an annual public lecture on a flag-related topic, known as the 'Perrin Lecture'. It holds twice yearly meetings for its members in various locations around the United Kingdom. The Institute itself is governed by a Board of five elected Trustees who are advised by an appointed Council of members.

The Flag Institute was congratulated by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, on its 40 years of existence. In May 2011 he said: "'Let me start by congratulating the Flag Institute on its first 40 years. 40 years as a respected source of help and advice. Not only to the UK Government, but to the United Nations and other organisations around the world. 40 years of bringing together enthusiasts, educating the public, and spreading knowledge.....The UK is very lucky in having - in the Institute - a group of dedicated and informed people who do a great deal to make sure that that respect is given. In your first 40 years you have established your credentials not just in this country, but on the world stage.'"

Following a postal ballot of members, the Institute became a charity at its annual general meeting in Worcester on Saturday 17th November 2012.

UK Flag Registry
The Institute keeps a registry of flags for the countries, regions and counties of the UK, as a definitive record. Flag designs with which its officers have been involved include those for the badge and ensign of the UK Border Agency and the flag of the UK Supreme Court.

The criteria for inclusion in the UK Flag Registry are: All Scottish flags must, by law, be authorized by Lord Lyon and recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.
 * The design must be unique within the UK, i.e. no other UK area or organisation is using the design
 * The design must be in the public domain, i.e. not subject to copyright
 * In the case of county flags, the flag must normally apply to a historical county rather than a modern administrative area
 * The flag must be one of the following: registered with the College of Arms; registered with the Office of the Lord Lyon; the traditional flag; selected by a public vote; or selected by an appropriate county or city organisation
 * It is possible for an existing flag of a county, city or town council to be included in the Registry, but only where the council concerned has granted permission for its residents to use the flag and recorded this in its minutes
 * Flags bearing a full achievement of a coat of arms would not ordinarily be recorded in the Registry, as in these cases, we would follow heraldic protocol and advise the use of a rectangular version of the shield on the arms
 * Ordinarily, flags should follow the Flag Institute's Civic Flag Design Guidelines
 * Inclusion in the Flag Registry is completely free of charge

The Nation's Flag Flying Permanently From Parliament
Until early 2010 the national flag of the United Kingdom was only flown from the Houses of Parliament when parliament was actually sitting, and when the House rose it was taken down and the flagpole left bare. The Flag Institute with the Flags and Heraldry Committee campaigned to see the flag flown permanently, to signify the enduring sovereignty of parliament and to act as the foremost flag of the nation, day and night every day of the year. In early 2010 Black Rod agreed that this should be so and since then the flag has flown all the time. This change was marked by a lunchtime reception on Tuesday 22 March 2011 in the River Room, House of Lords, hosted by Alan West, Baron West of Spithead and Andrew Rosindell MP and organised by Charles Ashburner.

UK Flag Flying Regulations
On 14 May 2011 at the Flag Institute Spring Meeting the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles announced his intention to liberalise flag flying regulations in the UK. . On 30 June 2011 representatives of the Flag Institute met with officials of the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) at the Institute's Mayfair address and were invited to draft new flag flying regulations. This document (with the working title Freedom to fly flags; Relaxation of statutory constraints on the display of flags) was submitted to DCLG on 26 July 2011. In a letter to the Flag Institute dated 19 August 2011, The Right Honourable Eric Pickles MP requested that the Flag Institute "'continue to work with officials to ensure we deliver a set of proposals that are acceptable to all of Whitehall.'" The resulting discussion paper titled Liberalising the regime for flying flags was published by DCLG in January 2012. The consultation period last from 6 January 2012 to 30 March 2012, with the results of the consultation being published on 20 September 2012 The new regulations were laid before Parliament on 17th September 2012 and came into force on 12th October 2012

Andrew Rosindell MP, Chair of the all-party parliamentary Flags and Heraldry Committee said: "'For centuries, flags have been used to display and promote the identity of nations, communities and organisations. I am delighted that British people will now be encouraged to hoist a banner and continue this tradition without restriction.'" Charles Ashburner, Chief Executive of the Flag Institute said; “This really is a new Freedom to Fly Flags. In our super fast world of instant news and ever changing technology, flags remain the ultimate symbol of identity. The deregulation of flag flying regulations is something which everyone who believes in freedom of expression should support. [This is] an important step towards encouraging and protecting the huge variety of different community and individual identities of which British society should be so proud.”

Board of Trustees
The Flag Institute is governed by five elected Trustees, currently;
 * Geoff Parsons (Chairman)
 * Charles Ashburner (Chief Executive)
 * Revd Canon John Hall FFIAV FFI (Treasurer)
 * Ian Sumner FFI (4th Trustee)
 * Graham Bartram FFI (5th Trustee)

Flag Institute Council
Members of the Flag Institute's Council are appointed by the Board of Trustees to advise them. Current appointees are:
 * Capt Malcolm Farrow OBE FCMI FFI RN (President)
 * Graham Bartram FFI (Chief Vexillologist)
 * Michael Faul FFIAV FFI (Editor, Flagmaster)
 * Ian Sumner FFI (Librarian)
 * James Joyce (Webmaster)