The Queen's Colour for the RAAF has a new home - a purpose-built cabinet in Air Force Headquarters, Canberra. Pictured are (from left) RAAFWOD Nat Khan, ADC FLTLT Bill Merkx, ADFA OFFCDT Cameron O'Neill, DCAF AVM Chris Spence and CAF AIRMSHL Angus Houston.

The Queen's Colour for the Royal Australian Air Force has a new home.

In a brief ceremony in July the Queen's Colour, previously housed at RAAF Base Fairbairn Officer's Mess, was hung in a purpose-built cabinet in Air Force Headquarters, Russell Offices, Canberra.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, and Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Spence, and Headquarters staff, looked on as the Colour was marched in and hung by RAAF Warrant Officer Discipline, Nat Khan, and the Chief's Aide-de-Camp, Flight Lieutenant Bill Merkx. The officers were led in by Australian Defence Force Academy Officer Cadet Cameron O'Neill playing the bagpipes.

The Colour was relocated due to the impending closure of Fairbairn.

About the Queen's Colour for the RAAF

As the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force had their origin in the British and Australian Armies, it was only natural they both should adopt the Army custom of awarding Colours.

It was not until 1943, on the 25th anniversary of the RAF, that King George VI announced his intention to award a ceremonial flag (to be known as the 'Standard') to operational squadrons.

Later, the King made it known that there should be Colours for the RAF as well as Standards. The first Colour was presented to the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell in 1948 and the first Standard was presented to No. 1 Fighter Squadron (RAF) in 1953.

The RAAF was the first Commonwealth Air Force to have Colours and Standard awarded.

In 1948 when His Majesty King George VI approved the Ensign for the RAAF, he agreed in principle to a King's Colour for the Service. The design for the RAAF King's Colour was approved by His Majesty in 1950. However, before the Colour could be presented the King died.

In May 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II consented to the original Colour, bearing the King's cypher (GVIR), being presented to the RAAF as the Queen's Colour. The Queen's Colour for the RAAF, as it is now known, was presented to the RAAF on behalf of Her Majesty by the then Minister for Air, the Honourable W. McMahon, MP, on the direct command of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir William J. McKell, GCMG, who was delayed in Canberra at the last moment.

Her Majesty's wishes were that no changes be made to the cypher until the Colour wore out and then it should be replaced with a Colour bearing the cypher of the Sovereign of the day.

On 2 March 1982, Her Majesty approved a new design for the Queen's Colour for the RAAF. This Colour was presented by Her Majesty on 5 March 1986 at RAAF Base Richmond.

The Colour is of sky-blue silk with fringe, cord and tassel of gold and crimson silk. The Colour bears in the centre the Royal Cypher with the Union Flag in the top left-hand corner and the Royal Australian Air Force Roundel in the bottom right-hand corner. A border of wattle is embroidered around the Colour; inside this border are the five stars of the Southern Cross, and a larger star, which signifies the Federation of Australian States.