text: In regiments of infantry of the British Army and the armies of other Commonwealth countries, each battalion carries two colours, which collectively are called a stand. These are large flags, usually , and mounted on a half pike which is  long; the king's or queen's colour (state or president's colour if the country is a republic) is usually a version of the country's national flag, often trimmed with gold fabric, and with the regiment's insignia placed in the centre. The regimental colour is a flag of a single colour, usually the colour of the uniform facings (collar/lapels and cuffs) of the regiment, again often trimmed and with the insignia in the centre. Most regiments that are designated as 'royal' regiments (that is either have the word 'Royal' or the sponsorship of a royal personage in their name) have a royal blue regimental colour, most royal regiments have a Union Flag canton in that background. Irish regiments, today the Royal Irish Regiment, have a dark green regimental colour.
  The colours of the five regiments of Foot Guards have the pattern of the line infantry reversed, with the king's colour of each of the 1st Battalions being crimson with the regimental insignia, a royal crown and honours and the regimental colour a variation of the Union Flag with the battle honours embroidered. The king's colours of any additional battalions from these regiments (currently held by the five incremental companies from four out of the six regiments) feature a Union Flag canton at the top corner.
  Additional colours
  The Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Guards each have at least one state colour; this is usually crimson with various regimental devices and honours, and the royal cypher at the corners of it. They are only used by guards of honour from any unit from these regiments, not found by the King's Guard, mounted on state occasions when the King is present. They are only lowered to the King and Queen and on state occasions only when the king is present, even if the guard of honour is mounted in honour of some other personage. The colour design is larger than the normal colours of the Guards Division used in ceremonies.