History of the Malta Flag: White and Red, the 1942 George Cross & Independence
Malta’s modern flag combines a much older white-and-red color tradition with the George Cross awarded to the island during World War II.
White and red before the George Cross
White and red have long been associated with Malta. Government material notes traditional links with the period of the Knights of St John, although the exact origin story of the colors is not settled by the Constitution.
World War II and the siege of Malta
Malta endured sustained bombing and severe wartime conditions because of its strategic position in the Mediterranean.
April 15, 1942: George Cross awarded
King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta as collective recognition of the population’s bravery and gallantry.
The cross enters the flag
The George Cross was incorporated into Malta’s flag and became one of its defining national symbols.
1964 independence
Malta became independent from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1964. The white-and-red flag with the George Cross became the flag of the independent state.
1974 republic
Malta became a republic in 1974 but retained the same basic national flag.
Modern constitutional definition
Article 3 of the Constitution defines two equal vertical stripes—white at the hoist and red at the fly—with the George Cross edged in red in the canton.
Why the flag is distinctive
It is unusual for a sovereign national flag to carry a decoration awarded by another monarch, making the George Cross a highly distinctive element of Malta’s state symbolism.
