Chile’s Estrella Solitaria (1817) pairs white over red horizontal bands with a blue canton bearing a white five‑pointed star. White evokes the Andes; red sacrifice for liberty; blue the sky; the star guidance and honour. Proportions and star geometry are fixed by law; civil, state, and war flags vary by presence of arms. Protocol governs display, half‑masting, and retirement; the basic design has remained stable since independence.
Adopted on 18 October 1817 during Chile’s independence process, the national flag consists of a white band above red, with a blue canton at the hoist charged with a single white five‑pointed star. The composition symbolises the Andes’ snows (white), the blood shed for independence (red), and the sky (blue), with the lone star as a guide to progress and honour.
The official proportion and the canton and star’s construction are specified by statute to ensure consistency. Variants include the civil flag (without arms) and state/war flags (with arms). Etiquette covers precedence with foreign flags, half‑masting, and dignified retirement.
The Estrella Solitaria has remained visually consistent for two centuries, becoming one of the region’s most recognisable emblems. It appears across ministries, schools, and abroad on missions, integral to national ceremonies and civic education.