Editing Flag of Kiribati (section)

== History ==
[[File:Kiribati students (7750104314) (2).jpg|thumb|left|Flag of Kiribati]]
Kiribati's flag is an armorial banner, a flag having a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms, the former badge of the flag of the British colony of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]]. In a letter on 15 August 1892 to the [[High Commissioner for the Western Pacific|Western Pacific High Commissioner]], [[Arthur Grimble]] has written (concerning his badge proposal):
*"Sea. Represents the space of the ocean in which the colony is isolated".
*"Sun. The islands lie close to the 180 degree meridian. Sun is either rising or setting".
*"Bird. Frigate bird (''[[Fregata minor|Fregat Aquilla]]'' (''sic'')) symbolises power, poise and freedom. To the natives it is a sign of sovereignty and kingly birth, and highly regarded as such".

The coat of arms dates was then granted by the [[College of Arms]] in May 1937 when it was officially granted to the colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The shield was incorporated into the centre of the fly half of a British [[Blue Ensign]] as the state ensign of the colony.

A competition was held to design a new flag in the run-up to national independence, and a design based on the colonial coat of arms was submitted to the [[College of Arms]], which initially decided to modify the submission. Both the golden frigatebird and the sun were to be enlarged, whereas the widths of the waves was to be decreased. The locals insisted on the original design. The new flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations in the capital, [[Tarawa]], on 12 July 1979.<ref name="Metcalf 2008 Flags">{{Cite book |last=Metcalf, Jonathan |title=Complete Flags of the World |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2008 |isbn=9780756641153 |pages=232}}</ref>