Palatinate is a shade of purple or lilac, coming from the colours of the palatineCounty Durham. A colour associated with Durham University, originally the colour of a University blazer. The sporting colours of Durham University, awarded by Durham University Athletic Union, are known as Palatinates. Purple is any of a group of colors intermediate between deep blue and red. ... Species About 20 species; see text. ... A County palatine is an area ruled by an count palatine (or earl palatine); with special authority and autonomy from the rest of the kingdom. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... Durham University is a university in England. ... A University Sporting Blue is earned by sportsmen and women at Cambridge, Oxford and some other universities in designated sports for competing at the highest level of university sport. ... Durham University Athletic Union is a student-run organisation responsible for sport at the University of Durham in Durham, England. ...