The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom

The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion. Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the British Government in connection with the administration and government of the country. In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the Scottish Executive. Image File history File links UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms. ... Image File history File links UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony Close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom are known by the appellation The Royal Family. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ...

Features

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three lions passant guardant of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. A shield is a protective device, meant to intercept attacks. ... The lion is a general figure in heraldry and the most beloved coat of arms animal. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The fleur-de-lis (or fleur-de-lys; plural: fleurs-de-lis) is a stylised design of an iris flower which is used both decoratively and symbolically. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... The harp is a stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. ...

The crest is a lion statant guardant wearing the imperial crown, itself on another representation of that crown. In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ...

The dexter supporter is a likewise crowned lion, symbolizing England; the sinister, a unicorn, symbolising Scotland. According to legend a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast; therefore the British heraldic unicorn is chained. In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ... Binomial name Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The unicorn is a mythical beast usually depicted with the body of a horse, but with a single – usually spiral – horn growing out of its forehead (hence its name from Latin unus one and cornus horn). The unicorns blood and horn supposedly have mystical healing properties. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... The unicorn is a mythical beast usually depicted with the body of a horse, but with a single – usually spiral – horn growing out of its forehead (hence its name from Latin unus one and cornus horn). The unicorns blood and horn supposedly have mystical healing properties. ...

The coat features both the motto of British monarchs Dieu et mon droit (God and my right) and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shamed be he who thinks ill of it) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield. A motto (from Italian) is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... Dieu et mon droit (French for God and my [birth] right) has generally been used as the motto of the British monarch since it was adopted by Henry V (1413-22). ... The insignia of a knight of the Order of the Garter. ...

The official heraldic description of the Royal Arms is as follows:

Quarterly, first and fourth Gules three lions passant gardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), second quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), third quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), the whole surrounded by the Garter; for a Crest, upon the Royal helm the imperial crown Proper, thereon a lion statant gardant Or imperially crowned Proper; for Supporters, dexter a lion rampant gardant Or crowned as the Crest, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or. Motto 'Dieu et mon Droit' in the compartment below the shield, with the Union rose, shamrock and thistle engrafted on the same stem.

Scotland

The Royal Arms, as used in Scotland

The Queen has a separate version of her arms for use in Scotland, which gives the Scottish elements of her arms pride of place. Image File history File links Uploaded by Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason. ... Image File history File links Uploaded by Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I...

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the lion rampant and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Scotland; in the second, the three lions passant guardant of England; and in the third, the harp of Ireland. A shield is a protective device, meant to intercept attacks. ...

The crest is a red lion sitting on a crown, holding a sword and a sceptre. This was the crest used in the Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland. A motto also appears above the crest which is taken from the battle cry 'In My Defens God Me Defend', abbreviated to 'In Defens'. In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, as used before 1603 The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland was the official coat of arms of the monarchs of Scotland, and were used as the official coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland until the Union of the Crowns in...

The supporters change sides, and both are crowned. The dexter supporter is a crowned and chained unicorn, symbolising Scotland. The sinister supporter is a crowned lion, symbolising England. Between each supporter and the shield is a lance displaying the flag of their respective Kingdom. Dexter is the name of a number of places in the United States of America: Dexter, Alabama Dexter, Arkansas Dexter, Georgia Dexter, Illinois Dexter, Indiana Dexter, Iowa Dexter, Kansas Dexter, Kentucky Dexter, Maine Dexter, Michigan Dexter, Minnesota Dexter, Mississippi Dexter, Missouri Dexter, New Mexico Dexter, New York Dexter, North Carolina... In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ... Sinister means left or to the left, and is a heraldry term referring to the left of the bearer of the arms, and to the right by the viewers eyes. ...

The coat features both the motto Nemo me impune lacessit (No-one wounds (touches) me with impunity) and the insignia of the Order of the Thistle around the shield. Royal Arms in Scotland Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No-one wounds (touches) me with impunity, literally meaning (lacessere = to appeal to, to provoke, to attack): No-one provokes me with impunity) is the royal Scottish motto, used historically for the Kingdom of Scotland where it appeared on the Royal... James VII ordained the modern Order. ...

Uses

The Royal Arms as shown above can only be used by the Queen. They also appear in court rooms, recognising the monarch as the font of justice in the UK. Judges are officially servants of the crown, demonstrated by them bowing to the Queen's Coat of Arms which sits behind the judge on the wall of every court in the land, with the exception of the magistrates court in the City of London, in which a sword stands vertically behind the judge which is flanked by the arms of the City and the Crown. A courtroom is the actual enclosed space in which a judge regularly holds court. ... A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ... The City of London is a geographically-small City within Greater London, England. ...

The British Government also uses the Royal Coat of Arms as a National symbol of the United Kingdom, and, in that capacity, the Coat of Arms can be seen on several Government Documents and forms, passports, in the entrance to embassies and consulates, etc. However, when used by the Government and not by the Sovereign herself, the coat of arms is usually represented without the helm.

The Queen also awards Royal Warrants to various businesses that supply the Royal Household. This allows the business to display the Royal Arms on their packaging and stationery. Royal Warrant awarded by Elizabeth II to Jenners, a department store in Edinburgh In the United Kingdom, a Royal Warrant of Appointment is a grant made by senior members of the British Royal Family to companies or tradespeople who supply goods and services to individuals in the family. ...

A banner of the arms, the Royal Standard is flown from the Royal Palaces when the Queen is in residence; and from public buildings only when the Queen is present. At Buckingham Palace, the Queen's main residence, the Royal Standard is flown when she is there. When she is not, the Union Flag is flown instead. Several countries use the term Royal Standard to describe the flag used by the monarch and members of the royal family. ... Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag (commonly, the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

History

The current Royal Arms are a combination of the arms of the Kingdoms that make up the United Kingdom, and can be traced back to the first arms of the Kings of England and Scotland. Various alterations occurred over the years as the arms of other realms acquired or claimed by the Kings were added to the Royal Arms. The table below tracks the changes in the Royal Arms from the original arms of King Henry II of England, and King William I of Scotland.

Kingdom of England Kingdom of Scotland Arms Dates Details ~1133 The first known arms of an English monarch, a golden lion rampant on a red field was first used by King Henry II 1198 - 1340 The arms of King Richard I "The Lionheart", three golden lions on a red field was first used in 1198 before his accession to the throne. He later adopted them as his Royal Arms, as did his successors and they became the heraldic representation of the Kingdom of England. 1340 - 1406 King Edward III quartered the Royal Arms of England with the ancient arms of France, the fleurs-de-lis on a blue field, to signal his claim to the French throne. 1406 - 1603 King Henry IV updated the French arms to the modern version, three fleurs-de-lis on a blue field. Arms Dates Details 12th century - 1603 A red lion rampant on a yellow field within a double tressure flory counter-flory, first used by King William I, and later by his successors, and becoming the heraldic representation of Scotland. Kingdom of Great Britain (1603-1801) Arms Dates Details 1603 - 1689 King James VI of Scotland inherits the English and Irish thrones in 1603 (Union of the Crowns), and quarters the Royal Arms of England with those of Scotland. For the first time, the Royal Coat of Arms of Ireland is added to represent the Kingdom of Ireland 1689 - 1702 King James II of Great Britain is deposed and replaced with his daughter Mary and her husband, William, Prince of Orange ruling jointly as William III and Mary II of Great Britain. An escutcheon of Nassau (the royal house to which William belonged) was added (a golden lion rampant on a blue field). 1702 - 1707 Queen Anne inherits the throne upon the death of King William III, and the Royal Arms return the 1603 version 1707 - 1714 The Acts of Union 1707 created the Anglo-Scottish Parliament of Great Britain. The Royal Arms of England and Scotland are impaled and moved to the first and fourth quarters, France second quarter and Ireland third quarter. 1714 - 1801 The Elector of Hanover inherits the throne following the death of Queen Anne under the provisions of the Act of Settlement 1701, becoming King George I. The fourth quarter of the arms is changed to reflect the new King's domains in Hanover (Brunswick-Lüneburg-Westphalia, surmounted by Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire for the Holy Roman office of Archbannerbearer/Archtreasurer). United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801-1927) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927 - ) 1801 - 1837 The Act of Union 1801 unites the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland. King George III drops the ancient claim to the French throne. The Royal Arms change with England now occuping the first and fourth quarters, Scotland the second, Ireland the third. For the Electorate of Hanover, there is an inescutcheon surmounted by the electoral bonnet. This is replaced in 1816 by a Royal Crown when Hanover was declared a Kingdom. 1837 - present The accession of Queen Victoria ends the personal union between the UK and Hanover, as Salic law prevents a woman ascending the Hanoverian throne. The escutcheon of Hanover is removed, and the Royal Arms remains the same. Note that there is no attempt to alter the Royal Arms to reflect later titles acquired by the British monarch such as Emperor of India, or when the dominions become Commonwealth Realms in their own right. Nor do the Royal Arms incorporate any element for Wales, since this was a Principality following the English conquest and not a Kingdom. However, the Prince of Wales places arms for Wales at the centre of his personal arms (see below).

Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital Winchester, then London from 11th century. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one strikes me with impunity) Capital Edinburgh¹ Language(s) Gaelic, Scots Government Monarchy King/Queen  - 843-860 Kenneth I  - 1587–1625 James VI  - 1702-1714 Anne Legislature Parliament of Scotland History  - United 843  - Union of the Crowns March 24, 1603  - Act of Union... Henry II of England (5 March 1133-6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland[], eastern Ireland, and western France. ... Image File history File links England-Richard-I-Arms. ... Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 to 1199. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Toba of Japan Emperor Tsuchimikado ascends to the throne of Japan January 8 - Pope Innocent III ascends Papal Throne Frederick II, infant son of German King Henry VI, crowned King of Sicily Births August 24 - Alexander II of Scotland (d. ... Image File history File links Arms_of_Edward_III_of_England. ... For the play, see Edward III (play). ... Fleurs-de-lys on the flag of Quebec The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the France monarchy (see King of France). ... Arms of the Kingdom of England incorporating the French arms The English claims to the French throne have a long and rather complex history between the 1340s and the 1800s. ... Image File history File links Armoiries_Angleterre_1422. ... // Birth and life before accession - relationship with Richard II - exile - return and usurpation Henry IV (April 3, 1367 – March 20, 1413) was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence the other name by which he was known, Henry of Bolingbroke. His father, John of Gaunt was the third and oldest... Fleurs-de-lys on the flag of Quebec The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the France monarchy (see King of France). ... Image File history File links Royal_Arms_of_Scotland. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... William I the Lion ( known in Gaelic as Uilliam Garm1 or William the Rough), (1142/1143 - December 4, 1214) reigned as King of Scots from 1165 to 1214. ... Scotland, England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom see British Isles (terminology). ... James VI and I (James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland. ... The Union of Crowns refers to the accession to the thrones of England and Ireland of King James VI of Scotland in March 1603, following the death of his unmarried and childless cousin, Elizabeth I, the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. ... Republic of Ireland Coat of Arms The coat of arms of Ireland is blazoned as azure a harp or, stringed argent - a gold harp with silver strings on a blue background. ... Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Monarchy King¹  - 1542-1547 Henry I  - 1760-1801 George III Chief Secretary  - 1660 Matthew Lock  - 1798-1801 Viscount Castlereagh Legislature Parliament of Ireland  - Upper house Irish House of Lords  - Lower house Irish House of Commons History  - Act of Parliament 1541  - Act of Union... Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... James II of England/VII of Scotland (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) became King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland on 6 February 1685, and Duke of Normandy on 31 December 1660. ... Mary II (30 April 1662–28 December 1694) reigned as Queen of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and as Queen of Scotland (as Mary II of Scotland) from 11 April 1689 until her death. ... William III of England (The Hague,14 November 1650 – Hampton Court, 8 March 1702; also known as William II of Scotland and William III of Orange) was a Dutch aristocrat and a Protestant Prince of Orange from his birth, Stadtholder of the United Netherlands from 28 June 1672, King of... William III Mary II The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the joint sovereignty over the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland of King William III and his wife Queen Mary II. Their joint reign began in February, 1689, when they were called to the throne by... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom displayed an inescutcheon of the arms of Hanover between 1801 and 1837 when the British monarch held the title of King of Hanover. ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau), a branch of the House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of the Fatherland) organized the Dutch revolt... Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) became Queen of England and Ireland and Queen of Scots on 8 March 1702. ... Image File history File links QuAn_Arms. ... The Acts of Union were a pair of Acts of Parliament passed in 1706 and 1707 (taking effect on 1 May 1707) by, respectively, the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... George I (Georg Ludwig) (28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was Elector of Hanover from 23 January 1698, and King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 1 August 1714, until his death. ... The Electress Sophia The Act of Settlement (12 & 13 Wm 3 c. ... -1... Braunschweig may also refer to the administrative region of Germany. ... Lüneburg (English: Lunenburg) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, about 50km southeast of Hamburg. ... Westphalia (German: Westfalen) is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Münster, Bielefeld, and Osnabrück and included in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. ... Etching of the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire by Johann Adam Delsenbach The Imperial Crown (in German: Reichskrone), is the crown of the Kings and Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages. ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Capital London Language(s) English Gaelic Welsh (Wales) Scottish Gaelic (parts of Scotland) Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1801–1820 George III  - 1920–1922... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The 1800 Act of Union merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... The prince-electors or electoral princes of the Holy Roman Empire — German: Kurfürst (singular) Kurfürsten (plural) — were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Emperors of Germany. ... Escutcheon is the term used in heraldry for the shield displayed in a coat of arms. ... Queen Victoria, see Queen Victoria (ship). ... A personal union is a relationship of two or more entities that are considered separate, sovereign states, which, through established law, share the same person as their respective head of state. ... The King of the Franks, in the midst of the military chiefs who formed his Treuste -- or armed court, dictates the Salic Law (Code of the Barbaric Laws). ... New Crowns for Old depicts Disraeli as Abanazer from the pantomime version of Aladdin offering Victoria an Imperial crown in exchange for a Royal one. ... A dominion, often Dominion, is the territory or the authority of a dominus (a lord or master). ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

Other variants

Royal Family

Members of the British Royal Family receive their own personalised arms which are based on the Royal Arms. Only children and grandchildren in the male line of the monarch are entitled to receive their own arms in this fashion. The arms of children of the monarch are differentiated by a three point label; grandchildren of the monarch are differentiated by a five point label. An exception is made for the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, who received a three point label. Since 1911, the arms of the Prince of Wales also has an inescutcheon of the ancient arms of the Principality of Wales. Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony Close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom are known by the appellation The Royal Family. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Escutcheon is the term used in heraldry for the shield displayed in a coat of arms. ... The Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales is a coat of arms used by the Prince of Wales. ...

Queen consorts and the wives of sons of the monarch also receive their own personalised coat of arms. Typically this will be the arms of their husband impaled with their own personal arms or those of their father. However, the consorts of a Queen regnant are not entitled to use the Royal Arms. Thus Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh uses his own personalised arms (See [1]) The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, (Philip Mountbatten; born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921) is the second cousin once removed, husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II. Originally a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip abandoned those titles to serve in the Royal Navy of...

Currently the following members of the Royal Family have their own arms based on the Royal Arms:

Children and grandchildren of the monarch in the male line
Arms	Royal	Details
Image:Prince Charles' Arms.png	The Prince of Wales	Plain three-point label, and inescutcheon of the Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales
	Prince William of Wales	Three-point label with a red escallop, alluding to the arms of his mother, Lady Diana Spencer
Image:COA Prince Harry Wales.gif	Prince Harry of Wales	Five-point label with three red escallops in alternate points
Image:Prince Andrew arms.png	Prince Andrew, Duke of York	Three-point label, the centre point bearing a blue anchor
<no image>	Princess Beatrice of York	Five-point label with three Bees in alternate points
<no image>	Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex	Three-point label, the centre point bearing a Tudor rose
	Anne, Princess Royal	Three-point label, the points bearing a red cross, a red heart and a red cross
<no image>	Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester	Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a red cross, the second and fourth points bearing a red lion
<no image>	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent	Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a blue anchor, the second and fourth points bearing a red cross
Image:Prince Michael arms.png	Prince Michael of Kent	Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a red cross, the second and fourth points bearing a blue anchor.
Image:Princess Alexandra arms.png	Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy	Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a red heart, the second and fourth points bearing a blue anchor.
Consorts
	Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall	The arms of the Prince of Wales impaled with those of her father, Major Bruce Shand
	Sophie, Countess of Wessex	The arms of the Earl of Wessex impaled with her own personal arms

The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor; born Windsor, 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... The Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales is a coat of arms used by the Prince of Wales. ... Coat of Arms of HRH Prince William of Wales File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Prince William redirects here. ... Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, the Prince of Wales, eldest son and heir apparent of Elizabeth II. Her two sons, Princes William and Harry, are second and third, respectively, in line to... Officer Cadet Wales on parade when New Colours were presented to Sandhurst, 21 June 2005. ... The Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG, KCVO, ADC(P) (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor; born Windsor, 19 February 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of York since 1986. ... Princess Beatrice of York (Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor; born 8 August 1988) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, KG, KCVO (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor; born 10 March 1964) is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest child and third son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Earl of Wessex since 1999. ... When Henry Tudor took the crown of England from Richard III in battle, he brought about the end of the Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster (Red Rose) and the House of York (White Rose). ... Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Laurence; formerly Mountbatten-Windsor, Phillips; born Windsor, 15 August 1950), is a member of the British Royal Family and the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. She is the seventh holder of the title Princess Royal, and is currently ninth in... Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO (Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor; born 26 August 1944) is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of King George V. He has been Duke of Gloucester since his fathers death in 1974. ... Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO (Edward George Nicholas Patrick Paul Windsor; born 9 October 1935), is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandchild of King George V. He has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942. ... Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO (Michael George Charles Franklin Windsor; born 4 July 1942) is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary. ... Princess Alexandra Princess Alexandra of Kent, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel Ogilvy, née Windsor), (born 25 December 1936), is a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George V. She was married to the late Sir Angus Ogilvy. ... Image File history File links The Coat of Arms of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. ... HRH The Duchess of Cornwall The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Parker Bowles, née Shand) (born 17 July 1947) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... Major Bruce Middleton Hope Shand MC and bar (born 22 January 1917), a Second World War war hero, is the father of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, the Heir Apparent to the British throne. ... Image File history File links Countess_of_Wessex_coa. ... HRH The Countess of Wessex The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen Mountbatten-Windsor, née Rhys-Jones), (born January 20, 1965), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke...

Government

British Government

Scottish Executive

The British Government uses a version of the Royal Arms but without the helm or crest, while in Scotland, the Scottish Executive uses the Scottish version, again without the helm or crest. In both arms, the crown sits directly on the shield Image File history File links Arms_Scot_Exec. ... Image File history File links Arms_Scot_Exec. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... A helm can mean: The steering mechanism of a vessel, from Old English helma, Proto-Germanic *khelman handle (c. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ...

The Arms feature on

• All Acts of Parliament;
• The cover of all UK passports; and
• As an inescutcheon on the Diplomatic flags for a British Ambassador

It is also used by the following government departments In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ...

• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
• HM Treasury;
• The shield of the Royal Arms with the motto of the Order of the Garter is used by the Home Office; and
• The shield of the Royal Arms is used by the Royal Mint.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury, in full Her Majestys Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. ...

Blazon

This table breaks down the official blazons to enable comparison of the differences between the general coat and the coat used in Scotland.

	Everywhere except Scotland	Scotland
Quarterly I & IV	Gules three lions passant gardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure	Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules
II	Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules	Gules three lions passant gardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure
III	Azure a harp Or stringed Argent	Azure a harp Or stringed Argent
Surrounded by	The Garter (with the words Honi soit qui mal y pense)	The Collar of the Order of the Thistle
Crest	Upon the Royal helm the imperial crown Proper, thereon a lion statant gardant Or imperially crowned Proper	Upon the imperial crown Proper a lion sejant affronté Gules imperially crowned Or holding in his dexter paw a sword and in his sinister a sceptre, both Proper
Supporters	Dexter a lion rampant gardant Or crowned as the Crest, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or	Dexter a unicorn Argent Royally crowned armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or holding the standard of St Andrew; sinister a lion rampant gardant Or Royally crowned holding the standard of St George
Motto	Dieu et mon Droit	Nemo me impune lacessit
War-cry		In Defens

The Irish royal crest On a torse azure and or, a castle triple-towered of the second, from the portal thereof a hart springing argent attired and hooved or is rarely if ever seen on the arms of the United Kingdom, as unlike the Act of Union 1707 with Scotland, the Act of Union 1800 with Ireland did not provide for a separate Irish version of the royal arms. Originally an item of clothing, there are now several related meanings: Garter (clothing), the item of clothing Order of the Garter, a senior British order of chivalry List of female members of the mediaeval Order of the Garter List of Knights and Ladies of the Garter from 1348 Garter snake... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... Lion of England, one of the replica set of the Queens beasts in the Kew Gardens, London, 2003-08-23. ... Interior of Westminster Hall - Photograph by Michael Reeve, 12 July 2002. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Wales and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ...

There is also no representation for Wales in the Royal Arms, as Wales was never a separate kingdom. However the dragon was used as a supporter on the Royal Arms by the Tudor Kings and Queens, reflecting that dynasty's Welsh origins. This article is about the country. ... In politics, a country (or in some cases, a group of countries) over which a king or queen reigns, is a kingdom, see: monarchy. ... Chinese dragon, color engraving on wood, Chinese school, 19th Century The dragon is a mythical creature typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile with magical or spiritual qualities. ... The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor (Welsh Twdwr) is a series of five monarchs of Welsh origin who ruled England from 1485 until 1603. ...

External links

• Royal.gov.uk- Coat of Arms
• Number 10 Downing Street- Royal Coat of Arms
• Heraldica.org- The Royal Arms of Great Britain