Flags are powerful symbols. They bring people together, mark special occasions, and show pride in who we are. Whether it’s 1st of December, Romania’s National Day, a football match where Romania is playing, a handball championship, or even a concert of a Romanian artist in London, waving the tricolour is a way of saying “I’m here, and I haven’t forgotten home.”
But are you allowed to fly a foreign flag in the UK?
Of course, it is completely legal. In the UK, you are free to display the Romanian flag as a private individual, without needing special permission. The law allows any country’s national flag to be flown, from your garden, balcony, or even on a rooftop flagpole, as long as it’s kept in good condition, safely installed, and doesn’t block road signs or cause hazards.
If you fly the Romanian flag on the same pole with the Union Flag, the Union Flag must be in the superior position. But if they are on separate poles, both flags can fly at the same height.
You just need to make sure you’ve bought the right flag. Why would that ever be a problem? Well, funny thing – the flag of Romania is almost identical to the flag of Chad. For most people who aren’t too good at spotting colour shades, the two look exactly the same.
How to tell the Romanian flag apart from the flag of Chad
Both flags are vertical tricolours of blue, yellow, and red, with the blue placed at the hoist (the side closest to the pole). The difference is in the shade of blue:
- Romania’s blue is a lighter cobalt shade.
- Chad’s blue is darker, closer to navy.
In practice, unless the two flags are placed side by side, most people won’t notice the difference.
Why Romania’s flag looks like Chad’s
Romania has used the tricolour since 1866, first appearing in Wallachia, and it remained in use until 1948, when it was replaced by the Socialist Republic of Romania’s flag featuring a communist emblem (a sickle and a hammer) in the centre. Meanwhile, Chad adopted its flag in 1960, after gaining independence from France. At that time, Romania’s flag still carried the emblem. But after the 1989 Revolution, Romania removed the communist insignia and reverted to its original tricolour, which, by then, looked the same as Chad’s.
A short history of the Romanian flag
The Romanian tricolour of blue, yellow and red gained true national meaning during the 1848 Revolution, when revolutionaries adopted it as a symbol of unity and inscribed it with the motto “Dreptate, Frăție” (Justice, Fraternity). That moment transformed the colours from regional emblems into a banner of freedom and national identity.
After 1867, the vertical tricolour was established as Romania’s official flag. During the Communist era, an emblem was imposed at the centre, turning the flag into a symbol of the regime. In 1989, protesters cut out the coat of arms, waving the famous “flag with the hole” – a powerful sign of reclaiming liberty.
Where to buy a Romanian flag in the UK
The easiest way to buy a Romanian flag in the UK is online. If you want to support Romanian shops in the UK, A&S Romanian shop is a great place to start. They often stock flags alongside traditional food and cultural products. That way, when you order your flag, you can also add some mici, cozonac, or zacuscă to your basket and turn the occasion into a proper celebration.
In the end, a flag is not just fabric. It’s a reminder of who we are and where we come from. Flying the Romanian tricolour in the UK is a way to share a piece of home, to celebrate together, and to show a little civic pride in both Romania and the community you live in now.
