Flag: St. Vincent & Grenadines

Three vertical bands, blue, gold and green, with three green diamonds in a V. The gold middle band is twice as wide as the others. Blue stands for the sky and sea, gold for sunshine and the islands' warmth, green for the lush vegetation and the energy of the people. The diamonds sit slightly below centre and spell out a V for Vincent; they also recall the country's nickname, the Gems of the Antilles.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one country made of the main island of Saint Vincent, where the capital Kingstown is, plus most of the Grenadines: a chain of smaller islands including Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. Just over a hundred thousand people live there. It was under British rule until independence on 27 October 1979 and remains part of the Commonwealth, with English as the official language. The southernmost Grenadines, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, belong to neighbouring Grenada, which is a different country with a different flag.

What does it mean when someone sends 🇻🇨?

Usually: this is my country, my roots or my holiday. Vincentians at home and in diaspora communities in Britain, the United States and Canada put it in bios, birthday posts and anything about family back home. Expect more of it around Independence Day on 27 October, during Vincy Mas, the national carnival in late June and early July, and when the West Indies, the joint cricket team of several Caribbean countries, plays.

Travellers use it for Bequia and Mustique, the latter famous as a hideaway for royals and celebrities, and for sailing holidays through the Grenadines. After the La Soufrière volcano erupted in April 2021, the flag became a way of sending solidarity and sharing relief appeals. It carries no known slang or hidden meaning; it means the country.