War-scarred Union Flag from the Battle of Trafalgar at risk of leaving the UK

• Valued at £450,000, this rare flag offers a glimpse into the dramatic events of the battle

• The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the flag for the nation

An export bar has been placed on a Union Flag that led Nelson's fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar to allow time for a UK buyer to be found. 

The Union Flag flew from the Royal Sovereign, the ship that led the British charge at the Battle of Trafalgar, and still features burn marks and splinters inflicted during the battle.

On 21 October 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Horatio Nelson's outnumbered fleet engaged Franco-Spanish ships near the Cape of Trafalgar, Spain. The attack was designed to stop the French reinforcing their positions in southern Italy.

This flag is believed to have been made and maintained by sailors aboard the Royal Sovereign, making it entirely unique. It is constructed from hand-stitched wool bunting with a weighted edge. 

The scars on the flag are evidence of the ferocity of the fighting during the battle. Lord Nelson's strategy was famously to send his ships on a headlong charge into the enemy, which has been described as a risky manoeuvre designed to split the opposing forces.

The Royal Sovereign, with this flag flying, was the first ship to engage the French and Spanish during the battle. Around 4,500 sailors lost their lives during the battle, including Lord Nelson himself. The British victory is recognised for establishing British naval supremacy across the following century.

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

Few symbols in our country are as evocative as the Union Flag, and this flag in particular is an extraordinary representation of Britain's history and national identity.

This flag was made by ordinary Britons and now epitomises a defining moment in our national history. I hope this profoundly important historical artefact can remain in Britain for the public to enjoy.

Pippa Shirley, Committee member said:

The Battle of Trafalgar has a uniquely important and defining place in our perception of British history and nationhood. This flag, which flew high above the fleets as they clashed on that momentous day, is one of only three to survive. It transports us to the heart of events as a physical witness, battle-scarred but astonishingly intact, to Nelson's tactical genius and the chaos, ferocity and drama of close combat at sea. The Royal Sovereign, flagship of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, played a vital role alongside Victory herself as the first ship into action leading one of the two columns deployed by Nelson in his boldly innovative, and successful, manoeuvre to split the line and which engaged and disabled the larger Spanish flagship. It was also the first time that Nelson ordered all ships to fly a Union Jack so that the British fleet could tell friend from foe in the smoke and noise of the battle. The flag's evocative connection to our national life and the establishment of the long period of British naval dominance runs so deep that its departure would be a great loss.

The Minister's decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the flag met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance to the study of historical commemorative practices, innovative naval tactics, and processes of flag-making.

The decision on the export licence application for the flag will be deferred for a period ending on 16 March 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the flag at the recommended price of £450,000 (plus VAT of £90,000 which may be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the paintings should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the ITEM are as follows: The flag is hand-stitched wool bunting with a weighted edge. It is battle worn with evidence of gunpowder stains and splinter tears. The sleeve at the hoist end is not original, being a later replacement stencilled ‘BENJm EDGINGTON / MAKER / LONDON BRIDGE S.E.'. Mounted and framed. 1525 x 2745 mm
3. Provenance: Charles Aubrey Antram R.N. (1785–1831), Master's Mate in Royal Sovereign at the Battle of Trafalgar. By family descent to: His sister: Rachel Nelson Lloyd, née Antram (1803–1884). Her great-nephew: Owen John Dunn (1846–1925). His son: Captain William Henry Dunn (1889–1986). By his gift to: William Ames (1919–2003). His deceased sale: A Rare Early 19th Century Naval Union Flag, Lot 61, Maritime Models,Christies, South Kensington, 26 May 2004. Private Collection, UK.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an  independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.