History of the lion rampant flag?

[ardchoille]

The lion rampant flag remains the personal banner of the monarch and use of this flag is restricted under the Act of the Parliament of Scotland. I see the lion rampant flag quite a lot at highland games and other Scottish events, but have heard that permission from the English monarch is required before displaying this flag - though no one enforces this. Because of the act of union, the king/queen of England is also the king/queen of Scotland.


The flag of Scotland representing the cross of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a blue field.

Why do people display the lion rampant flag rather than the Scottish flag?