ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flags of the Interregnum (British Isles)

Okay kiddo, so you know how different countries have their own flags, right? Well, a long time ago in the British Isles, there were some big changes happening. This was during a time called the Interregnum, which means there was no king or queen to rule the land. Instead, a man named Oliver Cromwell was in charge.

But here's where it gets a little tricky. During this time, there were actually three different flags used to represent the British Isles. The first one was called the "Commonwealth" flag. It had a simple design with a red background and a white cross in the middle. This flag represented the authority of Cromwell and the "Commonwealth" government.

The second flag was called the "Protectorate" flag. It was very similar to the Commonwealth flag, but with a few changes. The white cross was now outlined in black, and there was also a black shield added in the middle. This flag represented a period where Cromwell was given the title "Lord Protector," which means he was like a king but with a different name.

The third flag was called the "Royalist" flag. This flag was used by people who still supported the idea of having a king or queen ruling the British Isles. It had a red background with a white stripe down the middle, and a blue square with a white cross in the top left corner. This design was similar to the current flag of the United Kingdom, but with some differences.

So you see, during the Interregnum, there were three different flags used to represent the British Isles depending on who was in charge and what people believed in. It was a complicated time, but it's important to learn about because it helped shape the way things are today.