1903 – Feb: Formal announcement of approval by King Edward VII
Under Australian Constitutional regulation King Edward VII officially approved the Australian Flag (blue ensign) and Red Ensign for Merchant Navy, commercial shipping, ‘National Colours’.
The stars of the Southern Cross were standardised, with the 4 principal stars each of 7 points and the smaller star, least bright in the sky, remaining at 5 points.
Official government approval of the blue national and red merchant navy design was confirmed and illustrated in the Commonwealth gazette, No 8 of 20 February 1903:
