Parliament flies the flag for St Helena’s national day
21 May 2021
The tiny volcanic island of St Helena has gifted its flag to fly at the entrance to the UK Parliament on its public holiday.
The blue embroidered flag, which features the Union Jack and a shield with the rocky coastline of St Helena, a three-masted sailing ship with a Wirebird atop, was raised in New Palace Yard on Friday, 21 May.
Kedell Worboys, the UK’s representative of the St Helena Government, said it was "a huge honour" to see her nation’s flag flying in such a prestigious place.
"Parliament is the home of all of our parliaments. It’s the supreme power of the British Overseas Territories and it’s really good to have the territories recognised in this way," she said.
"Our national day on 21 May always involves a big celebration for us, with the New Horizons Youth project organising a fun day and carnival in our capital, Jamestown."
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said it was important that the UK Parliament marked the ceremonial days of the British Overseas Territories.
"We are so grateful to the Government of St Helena for gifting its national flag so we can fly it with pride here in Parliament," he said.
Every year since 1945, the discovery of St Helena has been celebrated on 21 May with a public holiday – even though it was chanced upon on 21 May 1502 by the Galician navigator João da Nova, who was sailing in the service of the King of Portugal.
With a population of 4,439 people, the 16km x 10km island is found in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, some 2,000km west of the nearest mainland - the Angolan coast.
St Helena’s most famous resident was Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled there in 1815 and his island residence of Longwood House is now a museum, owned by the French government.
Image credit: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor