Three major official flags fly in Monaco: the national flag, the state flag, and the princely standard.
Officially adopted on April 4, 1881, by Prince Charles III and confirmed in Article 7 of the 1962 Constitution of Monaco, the flag of Monaco consists of two equal horizontal bands: one red and one white.
The current design of the national flag dates back to the 19th century, but its colors were chosen as early as the 14th century by the Grimaldi family. These are the colors of the Grimaldi coat of arms, which themselves recall the colors of the coat of arms of the Republic of Genoa, the cradle of the Princely Family. A more romantic interpretation links the red of the flag to the blood of Saint Devote, a martyr in the 4th century and the patron saint of the Principality.
The state flag, white with the coat of arms of the Principality, flies over the Prince's Palace, government buildings, and police stations.
The coat of arms of the Principality consists of a red mantle lined with ermine, topped by the princely crown. On this mantle is placed a shield, lozengy in argent and gules, surrounded by the Collar of the Order of Saint-Charles and two monks, each armed with a raised sword. The monks stand on a scroll on which the motto of the Principality is written: DEO JUVANTE (with God's help).
The princely standard changes with each new prince and is used only during their presence.
It is a white flag bearing in red the monogram of the reigning prince, topped by the princely crown of Monaco. Thus, the standard of Prince Albert II consists of the princely crown of Monaco set above two opposing red "A"s.