I was originally going to save this for the NWDT, but I can't wait another two days, and this place needs more text posts anyways. Feel free to only read the text in bold.
With the impending resignation of TM Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, what will happen to the national flag of Equestria? Will it change with the regime or not?
It's always been my own personal headcanon that Equestria's national flag has changed throughout its history to represent its leadership. That's ultimately still just a headcanon, though. I find it incredibly likely that early Equestria and Equestria during the reign of Discord didn't have the same design we're all familiar with, and considering ponies' attitudes towards Luna's treason, the "interlunar years" also likely used a different design.
But what about this time around? It's one of the rare instances of a peaceful transition of power in Equestria. Ponies still love the current rulers and certainly wouldn't object to keeping them on the flag, and as far as we know, they'll continue to rule the sun and moon. Heck, keeping them on the flag could serve as a reminder of the validity of the upcoming regime.
But either way, if it's going to change after the princesses resign, how do you think it will? Or what would you like to see in a new Equestrian flag?
Judging from the tribal flags, it would appear that Equestria drew from older equine traditions. Will this hypothetical new flag remain a swallowtailed gonfalon with a semé, bordure, and emblem, following tradition? If so, will it only be the emblem that changes, or will the semé and colors change with it? Maybe it'll be a swallowtailed gonfalon, but utilize a completely different layout, like the Earth Pony flag?
Alternatively, maybe the new flag will be an addition to the current one? I had a dream in late '17 where I watched a "leaked S9 episode", where a new Equestrian flag was revealed as a background detail. Said flag looked like this, although it should be noted that it was being displayed diagonally outside somepony's house, so there was probably a vertical variant. That was a fun coincidence, but it still looks dumb.
Alternatively alternatively, perhaps Equestria will break from its traditions and instead modernize its vexillology? Equestria's municipal flags are already rectangular and horizontal, and so are the national ensign and the war flag, so what's to say the national flag won't follow suit? There would be some incentives to follow what I can only assume is the international standard in the pony world. In that case, will the design otherwise retain traditional features, or will it be something else? Perhaps a new, horizontal, rectangular Equestrian flag will have a much simpler design, making it much more readily available for its citizenry?
Or maybe I'm thinking about this too much. I dunno, what are your thoughts?
My own hope is that the flag does change, and that the new flag falls in line with the established tradition. I just don't know what I want it to represent, or how it might represent that/those thing(s). I'm mainly just making this post because I want ideas in that department.
