Royal Arms of the United Kingdom

Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. The Royal Arms, formally known as the Arms of Dominion, are the official heraldic emblem of the British monarchy and, by extension, the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. This complex coat of arms symbolizes the monarch's authority and the historical union of the nations within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its design incorporates the ancient arms of England, Scotland, and the Kingdom of Ireland, supported by iconic heraldic beasts and surrounded by the prestigious Order of the Garter.

Description and symbolism

The shield is quartered, with the first and fourth quarters displaying the three lions passant guardant of England, a design dating to the reign of Richard the Lionheart. The second quarter features the red lion rampant within a double tressure of Scotland, representing the Kingdom of Scotland. The third quarter bears the harp of Ireland, a symbol granted by Henry VIII. The shield is surmounted by the imperial crown and a crowned lion statant guardant. The dexter supporter is a similarly crowned lion, representing England, while the sinister supporter is a unicorn chained, symbolizing Scotland, a reference to its former kingdom status. The compartment typically features the Tudor rose, thistle, and shamrock, representing England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively. The motto *Dieu et mon droit* is attributed to Henry V and asserts the monarch's divine right, while the Order of the Garter encircles the arms with its motto, *Honi soit qui mal y pense*.

History

The arms evolved from those used by the Plantagenet kings, with the three lions of England becoming standard. The union of the Crowns of England and Scotland under James VI and I in 1603 led to the first impaled arms, combining the lions of England with the lion of Scotland. Following the Acts of Union 1707, the arms were quartered to show England and Scotland in the first and fourth, and second and third quarters respectively, with the fleur-de-lis of France occupying a portion in recognition of the English claim to the French throne. This claim was dropped during the reign of George III. The union with Ireland in 1801 added the harp of Ireland to the third quarter, removing the French arms and creating a design that persisted until 1837. The accession of Queen Victoria, who was not heir to the Kingdom of Hanover, removed the Hanoverian escutcheon from the arms, solidifying the modern form.

Uses

The Royal Arms are employed extensively as the personal emblem of the reigning sovereign and the symbol of royal authority. They appear on government buildings, official documents like Acts of Parliament and passports, in courts of law, and on the uniforms of the Royal Household and the Yeomen of the Guard. They are also featured on the coinage and banknotes of the United Kingdom, and are incorporated into the badges of many armed forces regiments and the Royal Mail. The arms are a central feature on the cover of every British passport issued in the name of His Majesty's Government.

Scottish version

In Scotland, a distinct version of the Royal Arms is used by the monarch and certain Scottish Government bodies, reflecting Scotland's separate heraldic tradition. In this version, the Scottish lion occupies the first and fourth quarters of the shield, taking precedence over the English lions, which are moved to the second quarter. The supporters are swapped, with the Scottish unicorn appearing on the dexter side and the English lion on the sinister, both crowned. The unicorn also holds the Banner of Scotland and the lion holds the Banner of England. The compartment features only Scottish thistles, and the motto *In Defens* appears above the crest. The entire composition is encircled by the Order of the Thistle and its motto, *Nemo me impune lacessit*.

Other versions and variants

Numerous other versions exist for specific uses and territories. The monarch's government in the Welsh Senedd uses a version without the Order of the Garter, as the Prince of Wales is not a member. The Royal Cypher, incorporating the arms on a shield, is used on royal standards, by the Royal Navy, and on post boxes. Various overseas territories such as Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies like the Isle of Man incorporate the Royal Arms into their own heraldic achievements. The Canadian Royal Arms and those of other Commonwealth realms are derived from but distinct from the UK arms. The College of Arms in London and the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh are the heraldic authorities responsible for the arms' governance in their respective jurisdictions.

Category:British monarchy United Kingdom Category:Heraldry of the United Kingdom