Thailand Marks National Flag Day on September 28

Thailand marked National Flag Day on September 28 with official ceremonies held across the country, including several events in Phuket.

The main ceremony in Phuket took place in the morning at Phuket Provincial Hall and was led by newly appointed Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom. A separate ceremony was held at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO), led by its president Rewat Areerob. Local authorities, government agencies and public institutions also organized their own events.

Thailand’s National Flag Day was established by the Cabinet in 2016. The day is not a public holiday, but official ceremonies are held to promote national pride and express respect for the King.

According to Phuket’s public relations office, the current Thai national flag was adopted during the reign of King Vajiravudh, Rama VI, on September 28, 1917. The tricolour therefore marks its 109th anniversary in 2026.

From the white elephant to the tricolour

The modern flag was the result of several changes to Siam’s national symbol. Before the early 20th century, the country’s principal national flag featured a white elephant on a red background.

In 1916, during the reign of Rama VI, a transitional design consisting of five red and white horizontal stripes was introduced. A year later, on September 28, 1917, the central stripe was changed to dark blue, creating the design used today.

The change came shortly after Siam entered the First World War on the side of the Allies. Red, white and blue were already prominent colours on the flags of several major Allied powers, including France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Dark blue also had a personal significance for Rama VI, as it was considered his royal colour.

The Thai flag consists of five symmetrical horizontal stripes, with the central blue stripe twice as wide as each of the adjacent white stripes. Red, white and blue also appear on the national flags of at least 29 other countries.

Rama VI associated the three colours with the country's main pillars: red represented the nation and its people, white represented religion, and blue represented the monarchy. Blue was also regarded as the sacred colour of Rama VI.

Thailand’s public relations authorities describe National Flag Day as an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of previous generations and to promote unity and national pride.