HERALDRYprecursors to the modern diplomat, to ensure rules were
upheld. This formal system was designed to ensure that,
within a jurisdiction, each knight’s arms remained unique.
Heralds of arms developed the system of blazoning arms,
still used in English-speaking countries. It includes a
stylised description of the shield, the crest, supporters,
mottoes, and other insignia in an anglicised version of
Norman French. During the reign of Richard III, the work
of heralds of arms had become so vital that a College of
Arms was formed in London; it still presides over the
issuing of arms today.
Perhaps the most familiar national heraldic symbol
of them all is the Royal Coat of Arms of the United
Kingdom, used by The Queen and thus visible on
courthouses, churches, on the Royal Standard flag (flown
when she is resident at principal palaces), and even public
houses (use on the latter is, however, unofficial). Its
distinctive shield is quartered, and in the first and
fourth quarters are shown three passant guardant lions of
England. The second quarter shows a lion and Scotland’s
double tressure flory counter-flory. And finally, the third
quartersymbolisesIrelandwitha harp.Theshieldis held
upononesidebyanotherEnglishlion,andontheother
sidebya Scottishunicorn.Below,thegreenerythatthe
wholesitsatopis dottedwitha thistleforScotland,a
TudorroseforEnglandanda shamrockforIreland,and
belowaretheFrenchwords:Dieuet monDroit(“God
andmyright”).
Useof theRoyalCoatof Armsis reservedforthe
monarchonly.However,sinceEnglandis governedin
hername,it appearsin courtrooms,onpassportsandin³©^2013
K E N S I N G T O N
PA L A C E
To p: The Royal Coat
of Arms adorns
Twinings’ home
on the Strand
Below left: The
new Conjugal Coat
of Arms for Prince
William, Duke of
Cambridge and
Catherine, Duchess
of CambridgeHeraldry has shaken off its aristocratic
associations in recent years, making it fareasier to trace your own family’s heritage
government, as well as being stamped on several coins
made by the Royal Mint: the full coat appears on the one
pound coin, and sections of it on the other coins, which
can be put together to form a jigsaw of sorts. It also
appears on everything from Heinz ketchup bottles
to Twinings tea, thanks to the coat’s appearance in
the Queen’s Royal Warrant.
Other members of the royal family each have their
own variants on the design: Prince William’s coat features
a three-point label with a red escallop, an allusion to
the arms of his mother, Diana, while the Duchess of
Cambridge’s coat shows Prince William’s next to those
of her own father’s.
However, the Royal Coat of Arms has not always
existed exactly in this form. The very first official Royal
Arms belonged to Richard I, whose heraldic symbol was
of three golden lions on the red backdrop. These morphed
over the years to reflect the kingdoms acquired by the
crown; during Edward III’s reign, he laid claim to the
throne in France, at which point the arms became
quartered and he inserted the Arms of France (the
fleur-de-lis on a blue background) too. The Scottish
and Irish additions were made in 1603, when the
Union of Crowns placed the three kingdoms under one
monarch, though later the French Arms were ditched.
Another renowned use of heraldic symbolism is found
in The Most Notable Order of the Garter, an order of
chivalry dedicated to the arms of England’s patron, Saint
George, and founded in 1348, by Edward III. The
highest-ranking order of knighthood in the land,
outstripping the George Cross, it can only be bestowed by
the Queen herself, and is limited to 24 living ‘companions’.
New members of the Order of the Garter are usually
announced once a year on Saint George’s Day (23 April).
The emblem is worn by members on ceremonial
occasions, and features the eponymous garter which
bears the legend: Honi soit qui mal y pense (“Shame
on him who thinks evil of it”).