The King’s Arms

On 26 May 1954, Queen Elizabeth II approved a new artistic depiction of the Royal Arms, above. Now the King has new, slightly different, Arms, below.

“His Majesty The King has approved an official artistic depiction for his Royal Arms. Painted by Timothy Noad, Herald-Painter at the College of Arms, The King’s Arms are a new artistic rendering of the Royal Arms of 1837 and feature the Royal Crown depicted in the form commonly referred to as the Tudor Crown.

The present form of the Royal Arms was established consequent to the first article of the Union with Ireland Act 1800; the design was approved by Order-in-Council of King George III on 5 October 1800, and put into use by a proclamation of 1 January 1801, the day the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland came into being. Initially they were marshalled with the Arms of the Electorate (later Kingdom) of Hanover, but these were removed by Order-in-Council and Proclamation of Queen Victoria on 26 July 1837, when the Royal Arms assumed the form they still bear today. On 26 May 1954, Queen Elizabeth II approved a new artistic depiction of the 1837 Arms, which remained the standard form for the next seventy years, and which is now replaced by the present depiction.

The Royal Arms are the personal Arms of His Majesty King Charles III, the national Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and also represent the Crown in many official settings in the other Commonwealth Realms. While the above design will be the standard depiction; it is not a sealed pattern, and suitable artistic reinterpretation of the Royal Arms will continue for their many uses on buildings, medals, coinage and so on.” (College of Arms)

English Heritage invites readers of its website to design their own Coat of Arms, a practice no doubt frowned on at the College of Arms but nonetheless fun. If you’d like to join the College of Arms there is a vacancy for a Probationary Officer of Arms advertised on the College’s website.