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A temporary export ban has been placed on a Union Flag that flew from HMS Royal Sovereign – the ship that led the British charge at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 – in order to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire it for the nation.
The flag is made from hand-stitched wool bunting with a weighted edge, and is believed to have been constructed and maintained by sailors aboard the ship. Battle scars including gunpowder stains and splinter tears bear witness to the ferocity of the fighting it saw; around 4,500 sailors lost their lives during the battle, including Admiral Horatio Nelson.
The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) recommended the export ban on the basis of the flag’s outstanding historical significance and importance as a national symbol; it is one of only three Union Jacks flown during the defining naval battle to survive today. It was consequently announced that the decision on the export licence application for the flag would be deferred until 16 March, after which its owners will have a period of 15 business days to consider any offers to purchase the flag at the recommended price of £450,000.
Text: Amy Brunskill
