In 1707 the Act of Union meant that Scottish regiments lost the distinction of their national flag and were obliged to adopt the Union flag which combined the saltire of St Andrew with the red cross of St George. The regiment was later reduced to two Colours, the King’s Colour, which had the Union flag throughout, and the Regimental Colour which was deep yellow, the colour of the facings, with a small Union in the upper canton.
Up until 1747 the Colours displayed the personal devices of the Colonel of the Regiment, but the new regulations of 1747 abolished them and ordered regiments to have either a specially permitted regimental badge, or the number of the regiment in Roman numerals. The number was to be placed in the middle, surrounded by a Union wreath of thistles and roses. The Regiment was numbered 25th in 1751, but not, at that stage, entitled to use the badge of Edinburgh Castle, so they had to have XXV in the centre of both Colours. The size of the Colours was reduced slightly, to 6ft 6ins flying and 6ft 2ins on the pike. The pike was almost 10ft long with a spear head, and gold and crimson cords and tassels. The edges of the flags were not fringed. The custom of displaying battle honours did not begin until after 1784 (‘Gibraltar’ was awarded to four regiments then).
