Flag of the British Leeward Islands

The flag of the British Leeward Islands was the flag of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands. It was a Blue Ensign with a badge. The colonies under the Federal Colony had their own badges from 1909. The Governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands used a Union Flag defaced with the coat of arms. The badge depicted two white ships sailing in opposite directions through the straits. In the foreground was a pineapple, with three smaller ones behind it. Pineapples were an important product of island agriculture. The coat of arms of Great Britain appeared above the scene.^[1]

Flag of the British Leeward Islands

Use	National flag
Adopted	1871 (with a Tudor Crown), 1952 (with a St Edward's Crown)
Relinquished	1958
Design	A British Blue Ensign defaced with the colony badge.
Designed by	Sir Benjamin Pine
Flag of the Governor of the British Leeward Islands
Adopted	1874 (with a Tudor Crown), 1952 (with a St Edward's Crown)
Relinquished	31 December 1959

The flag was adopted in 1871 when Sir Benjamin Pine was governor. There was a rumor going around that the large pineapple represented him and the smaller ones represented his family. The flag remained in use for 85 years until the federation was dissolved as a result of the annexation of most of its islands to the larger West Indies Federation in 1958. The only change came in 1952 when the Queen Elizabeth II requested the Tudor Crown in all British symbols with St. Edward's Crown, which she wore at her coronation.^[2]