The Royal Flag of Scotland, although based on an older Scottish flag than the St. Andrew's Cross, it should, strictly speaking, now only be used by the monarch in relation to her capacity as Queen in Scotland. However, it is widely used as a second national flag.

The Lion Rampant flag flies over the offices of the Secretary of State for Scotland (who is the representative of the U.K. government in Scotland); that is Dover House in London and New St Andrew's House in Edinburgh.

King George V signed a Royal Warrant in 1934 allowing the use of the Lion Rampant flag as "a mark of loyalty" because of the forthcoming Jubilee celebrations. The Lord Lyon officially now takes the view that this permission "related to decorative ebullition", that is, it is permissible to wave the flag at football matches. It is however not allowable to fly the flag without permission, on a flagpole or from a building. The Lord Lyon once threatened the town councillors of Cumbernauld with an Act passed in 1679 which prescribed the death penalty for misuse of the royal arms.