Royal Coat of Arms I United Kingdom I The British Monarchy

Royal coat of arms cover - British Monarchy

Kingdoms of England & Scotland

The current royal arms are a combination of the arms of the former kingdoms that make up the United Kingdom, & can be traced back to the first arms of the kings of England & kings of Scots.

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 photos below track the changes in the royal arms from the original arms of King Richard I of England, & William I, King of Scots, through royal history

Kingdom of England

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Edward the Confessor

Attributed royal Coat of arms of King Edward the Confessor (who lived before standardized coats of arms came into use) by Matthew Paris, based on a design on Edward's coinage.

Edward's arms were impaled or quartered by his descendants.

Henry II

Coat of arms in use as the Arms of England from 1154-1189 during the reign of Henry II

King Richard I Lionheart

Possible interpretation of the arms shown on King Richard I's first Great Seal.

These are the arms of Plantagenet, of which family Richard was a member. The tinctures & the number of charges shown in this illustration are speculative.

Arms of England from 1189 - 1198

Blazon (Description): Gules two lions combatant Or, armed & langued Azure.

Richard I Lionheart

Used as the Royal Arms of England (1198 - 1340)

Other kings to use this coat of arms were King John; Henry III; Edward I; Edward II & Edward III.

The second Great Seal of Richard I (1198) shows him bearing a shield depicting three lions passant-guardant. This is the first instance of the appearance of this blazon, which later became established as the Royal Arms of England. It is likely, therefore, that Richard introduced this heraldic design. In his earlier Great Seal of 1189, he had used either one lion rampant or two lions rampants combatants, which arms he may have adopted from his father.

Richard is also credited with having originated the English crest of a lion statant (now statant-guardant). The coat of three lions continues to represent England on several coins of the pound sterling, forms the basis of several emblems of English national sports teams (such as the England national football team, & the team's "Three Lions" anthem), & endures as one of the most recognisable national symbols of England.

Edward III

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.

In use: 1340–1377

Richard II

King Richard II impaled the Royal Arms of England with the arms attributed to King Edward the Confessor.

In use: 1377–1399

Blazon: Per pale, I: Azure a cross flory & five martlets Or; II: Quarterly, 1 & 4: Azure semy-de-lis Or; 2 & 3: Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure.

Henry V

The arms were updated the French arms to the modern version, three fleurs-de-lis on a blue field.

Royal Arms of England and France used intermittently (1399-1603)

Henry VI

King Henry VI impaled the French & English arms, using the same arms after his "readeption".

Royal Arms of England and France (1470-1471)

Edward IV

King Edward IV restored the arms of King Henry IV.

In use: 1461–1470 & 1471–1554

Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey (c. 1537 – 12 February 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley (after her marriage) & as "the Nine Days' Queen", was an English noblewoman & de facto Queen of England and Ireland from 10 July until 19 July 1553.

Mary I

Queen Mary I impaled her arms with those of her husband, King Philip of Spain. Although Queen Mary I's father, King Henry VIII, assumed the title "King of Ireland" & this was further conferred upon King Philip, the arms were not altered to feature the Kingdom of Ireland.

In use: 1554–1558

Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I restored the arms of King Henry IV.

In use: 1558–1603

Kingdom of Scotland

William I of Scotland

A red lion, rampant, on a yellow field within a double royal tressure, flory counter-flory, first used by King William I, & later by his successors, & becoming the heraldic representation of Scotland.

In use: 12th century – 1558

Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland used from the 12th century to 1603. Used by the Kings of Scots up until the Union of the Crowns in 1603 under King James VI & I, of Scotland & England.

Blazon: Escutcheon Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter-flory Gules (for the Kingdom of Scotland), the whole surrounded by the Order of the Thistle; for a Crest, upon the Royal helm the imperial crown Proper, a lion sejant affrontée Gules, imperially crowned Or, holding in the dexter paw a sword & in the sinister paw a scepter both erect & Proper; Motto ‘In defens’; Mantling Or and ermine; for Supporters, dexter a unicorn Argent armed, crined & unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée & fleurs de lys a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs & reflexed over the back also Or, supporting a tilting lance proper flying a banner Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter-flory Gules (Banner of the King of Scots), sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined & unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée & fleurs de lys a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs & reflexed over the back also Or, supporting a tilting lance proper flying a banner Azure, a saltire Argent (Cross of Saint Andrew)

Mary, Queen of Scots, Dauphine of France

Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland from 1558 to 1559, used by Mary, Queen of Scots as Dauphine of France

In use: 1558–1559

Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots & Queen consort of France. She also for a short time quartered the English arms in France. Mary claimed the English crown. see link below

In use: 1559–1560

Mary, Queen of Scots & Queen dowager of France.

Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland from 1560 to 1565, used by Mary, Queen of Scots and Dowager Queen of France

In use: 1560–1565

Mary, Queen of Scots

Upon her (second) marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in 1565, Mary discontinued the arms of Scotland & France impaled, reverting to those of the Kingdom of Scotland. King James VI was the last monarch of Scotland to use these arms before the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

In use: 1565–1603

The Union of the Crowns places England, Ireland & Scotland under one monarch

James VI & I coat of arms as used in England

James VI & I as used in England

James VI, King of Scots inherited the English & Irish thrones in 1603 as James I

(Union of the Crowns), & quartered the Royal Arms of England (pictured here) with those of Scotland.

For the first time, the Royal Coat of Arms of Ireland was added to represent the Kingdom of Ireland. (The Scottish version differs in giving the Scottish elements more precedence.)

In use: 1603-1707

Also used by Charles I & Charles II

James VI & I coat of arms used in Scotland

James VI & I used in Scotland

Royal Arms of Scotland from 1603 to 1707 (with several interuptions)

James VI, King of Scots inherited the English & Irish thrones in 1603 (Union of the Crowns), & quartered the Royal Arms of England (pictured here) with those of Scotland (pictured here). For the first time, the Royal Coat of Arms of Ireland was added to represent the Kingdom of Ireland. (The Scottish version differs in giving the Scottish elements more precedence.)

Also used by Charles I & Charles II

William III & Mary II

King James II & VII was deposed and replaced with his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III.

As King and Queen they impaled their arms: William bore the Royal Arms with an escutcheon of Nassau (the royal house to which William belonged) added (a golden lion rampant on a blue field), while Mary bore the Royal Arms undifferenced.

Used in England: 1689-94

William III & Mary II

King James II & VII was deposed and replaced with his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III. As King and Queen they impaled their arms: William bore the Royal Arms with an escutcheon of Nassau (the royal house to which William belonged) added (a golden lion rampant on a blue field), while Mary bore the Royal Arms undifferenced. In Scotland the king was numbered William II of Scots

Used in Scotland: 1689-94

William III & Mary II as used in England

King James II & VII was deposed & replaced with his daughter Mary II & her husband, William III. As King & Queen they impaled their arms: William bore the Royal Arms with an escutcheon of Nassau (the royal house to which William belonged) added (a golden lion rampant on a blue field), while Mary bore the Royal Arms undifferenced.

In use: 1689–1694

William II & Mary II

Coat of Arms of Scotland from 1689 to 1694 used by King of Scots. Mary II and William II (William III in England)

William III

After the death of Mary II, William III reigned alone, and used his arms only.

In use in England: 1694-1702

William II

After the death of Mary II, William III (II in Scotland) reigned alone, & used his arms only in Scotland..

In use: 1694-1702

Queen Anne

Queen Anne inherited the throne upon the death of King William III & II, & the Royal Arms returned to the 1603 version.

In use in England: 1702–1707

Queen Anne

Queen Anne inherited the throne upon the death of King William III & II, & the Royal Arms returned to the 1603 version.

In use Scotland: 1702–1707

At the Union creating Great Britain in 1707, arms were adopted for the new kingdom, & again in 1801 at the Union creating the United Kingdom

Queen Anne

Queen Anne; The Acts of Union 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800). The Royal Arms of England & Scotland are impaled (as for a married couple) & moved to the first & fourth quarters, France second quarter & Ireland third quarter.

In use : 1707–1714

Queen Anne; Coat of Arms of Scotland

Coat of Arms of Scotland from 1707 to 1714 used by Queen of Scots Anne

In use: 1707-1714

George I, II & III Royal Arms of Great Britain, France, Ireland, Hanover, & Brunswick

The Elector of Hanover inherited 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 was changed to reflect the new King's domains in Hanover (Brunswick–Lüneburg, surmounted by the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire for the Holy Roman office of Archbannerbearer/Archtreasurer).

In use: 1714–1800

George I, George II, George III

George III

The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdoms of Great Britain & Ireland. At the same time, King George III abandoned his ancestors' ancient claim to the French throne (France had become a republic).

The Royal Arms changed, with England now occupying the first & fourth quarters, Scotland the second, Ireland the third.

The Royal Arms used in Scotland has Scotland occupying the first & fourth quarters, England the second, Ireland the third. For the Electorate of Hanover, there is an inescutcheon surmounted by the electoral bonnet. The Arms of Hanover were similar, but lacked the electoral bonnet.

In use: 1801-1816

King George III

The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdoms of Great Britain & Ireland.

At the same time, King George III abandoned his ancestors' ancient claim to the French throne (France had become a republic). The Royal Arms changed, with England now occupying the first & fourth quarters, Scotland the second, Ireland the third.

The Royal Arms used in Scotland has Scotland occupying the first & fourth quarters, England the second, Ireland the third.

For the Electorate of Hanover, there is an inescutcheon surmounted by the electoral bonnet.

The Arms of Hanover were similar, but lacked the electoral bonnet.

In use in Scotland only: 1801-1816

George III, IV & William IV

The electoral bonnet was replaced by a crown in 1816, as Hanover had been declared a kingdom two years previous.

In use: 1816–1837

George III, IV & William IV

The electoral bonnet was replaced by a crown in 1816, as Hanover had been declared a kingdom two years previous.

In use in Scotland only: 1816–1837

Queen Victoria & her successors from 1837 to the present coat of arms (as used in all her British realms except Scotland)

Queen Victoria & her successors from 1837 to the present (as used in all her British realms except Scotland)

The accession of Queen Victoria ended the personal union between the United Kingdom & Hanover, as Salic law prevented a woman from ascending the Hanoverian throne. The escutcheon of Hanover was removed & the Royal Arms remained the same. There was no attempt to alter the Royal Arms to reflect later titles acquired by the British monarch such as Emperor of India. The harp of the Kingdom of Ireland remained despite partition in 1921, to represent Northern Ireland.

In use: 1837–1952. By Queen Victoria; Edward VII; George V; George VI

Queen Victoria & her successors

Queen Elizabeth II

The Irish harp was modified to a plain Gaelic harp, rather than a winged female, in 1952 in accordance with the personal preference of Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal Arms do not incorporate any specific element for Wales, a principality, incorporated into the Kingdom of England under Henry VIII.

However, the Prince of Wales places arms for Wales at the centre of his personal arms.

In use in all Her Realms except Scotland: 1953 - 2022

Elizabeth II

The Current Royal Family

Members of the British royal family are granted their own personal arms which are based on the Royal Arms.

Only children & grandchildren in the male line of the monarch are entitled to arms in this fashion: the arms of children of the monarch are differenced with a three-point label; grandchildren of the monarch are differenced with a five-point label. An exception is made for the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, who bears a three-point label.

Since 1911, the arms of the Prince of Wales also displays an inescutcheon of the ancient arms of the Principality of Wales.

Queen consorts & the wives of sons of the monarch also have their own personal coat of arms. Normally this will be the arms of their husband impaled with their own personal arms or those of their father, if armigerous. However, the consorts of a Queen regnant are not entitled to use the Royal Arms.

Thus Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has been granted his own personal arms.

Charles, Prince of Wales

The coat of arms of the Prince of Wales is based on the Royal arms with the plain three-point label, augmented by an inescutcheon in honour of the traditional arms of the Principality of Wales.

The Prince of Wales's feathers, the Red Dragon of Wales, Sable fifteen Bezants Or (the arms of the Duke of Cornwall, his subsidiary title in England) and his motto Ich dien are also added below the shield and the supporters.

In Scotland, his arms as the Duke of Rothesay are displayed rather than those of the Prince of Wales.

Charles, the Prince of Wales

Shield of arms of HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales (born 1948) son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. The arms was granted in 1958 to him as the Heir-Apparent to the British and Commonwealth thrones.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent, and on an inescutcheon ensigned by the coronet of the heir-apparent, quarterly, Or and Gules four lions passant guardant counterchanged (for the Principality of Wales).

Charles, Duke of Rothesay, in Scotland

Prince Charles coat of arms as used in Scotland, as the Duke of Rothesay are those of Clan Stewart of Appin adapted, namely the quartered arms of the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland and Lord of the Isles (secondary titles of the Duke) with an inescutcheon as Scottish heir apparent (the Royal Arms of Scotland with a blue three-point label).

Charles Duke of Rothesay

Shield of Arms of Prince Charles as used in Scotland, the arms of the Duke of Rothesay are those of Clan Stewart of Appin adapted, namely the quartered arms of the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland and Lord of the Isles (secondary titles of the Duke) with an inescutcheon as Scottish heir apparent (the Royal Arms of Scotland with a blue three-point label).

"The Prince of Wales had the idea of incorporating his Scottish titles - Duke of Rothesay, Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland - into a banner. It was designed in 1974 by Sir Iain Moncrieffe in his capacity as Albany Herald and approved by The Queen later that year.

The standard, exclusively for use when The Prince is in Scotland, was first flown on 21st July 1976, when he visited Loch Kishorn, Wester Ross, to launch the Ninian Central oil platform production dock, the site of which was part of the ancient lordship of the Isles.

The standard is also known as His Royal Highness's Scottish Banner.

The first and fourth quarterings of the banner - blue and white chequered band across a gold background - represent the Great Steward of Scotland.

The second and third quarterings - a black galley with red flags on a white background - represent the Lord of the Isles.

Superimposed in the centre is a small gold shield with the red Lion Rampant within a red Royal Tressure on it, charged with a blue label of 3 points.

This represents the Dukedom of Rothesay"

Prince William Duke of Cambridge

Coat of arms of HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (Formerly Prince William of Wales, William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer.

The coat of arms was granted in June 2000, on his 18th birthday.

The small red ‘escallop’ or sea-shell on the central point alludes to the arms of his mother & the Spencer family.

He is the only one of Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren to bear a label of three points (usually reserved only for a child of the Sovereign).

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Escallop Gules, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a child of the Heir-apparent, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Shield of Arms of HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (Formerly Prince William of Wales). (born 1982) son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer.

The arms was granted in June 2000, on his 18th birthday. The small red ‘escallop’ or sea-shell on the central point alludes to the arms of his mother & the Spencer family. He is the only one of Queen Elizabeth II's grandchild to bear a label of three points (usually reserved only for a child of the Sovereign).

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Escallop Gules.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex. (born 1984) second son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

The coat of arms was granted in September 2002, on his 18th birthday.

The three small red ‘escallop’ or sea-shell on the label alludes to the arms of his mother and the Spencer family.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third and fifth points charged with an Escallop Gules, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a child of the Heir-apparent, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

The second son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer. The coat of arms was granted in September 2002, on his 18th birthday. The design is derived from the armorial bearings of HM the Queen, with an identifying addition evolved from the Arms used by the princes’ mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The three small red ‘escallop’ or sea-shell on the label alludes to the arms of his mother & the Spencer family.

Blazon; Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third & fifth points charged with an Escallop Gules.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal

Coat of arms of HRH Princess Anne, Princess Royal.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent charged on a centre point with a Heart Gules & on each of the others with a cross Gules, the lozenge ensigned by a coronet of a child of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined & unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs & reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal

Shield of arms of Princess Anne. Blazon: Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent charged on a centre point with a Heart Gules and on each of the others with a cross Gules.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York. (born 1960) second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Anchor Azure, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a child of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Arms of HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York. (born 1960) second son of Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. The coat of arms was granted in 1963. The label of three points, with the central point charged with an anchor; was previously borne by his grandfather King George VI (he was also a Duke of York prior to becoming king) & King George V (also a Duke of York, before becoming the Prince of Wales, then king).

Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Anchor Azure.

Princess Beatrice of York

Coat of Arms of HRH Princess Beatrice of York. (born 1988) first daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

The coat of arms was granted in July 2006, on her 18th birthday.

The three small bees on the label alludes to the arms of her mother Sarah.

The appearance of the bees thrice is also a canting (heraldic punning) on her name: Beatrice.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third and fifth points charged with a Bee volant proper, the lozenge ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Princess Beatrice of York

Arms of HRH Princess Beatrice of York. (born 1988) first daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The coat of arms was granted in July 2006, on her 18th birthday. The three small bees on the label alludes to the arms of her mother Sarah. The appearance of the bees thrice is also a canting (heraldic punning) on her name: Beatrice.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third and fifth points charged with a Bee volant proper.

Princess Eugenie

Coat of Arms of HRH Princess Eugenie of York. (born 1990) second daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

The coat of arms was granted in July 2008, on her 18th birthday.

The three thistle heads on the label alludes to the arms of her mother Sarah.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third and fifth points charged with a Thistle head proper, the lozenge ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Princess Eugenie

Arms of HRH Princess Eugenie of York. (born 1990) second daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York & Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The coat of arms was granted in July 2008, on her 18th birthday. The three thistle heads on the label alludes to the arms of her mother Sarah.

As a male-line grandchild of the sovereign, Eugenie was known as "Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York", with the territorial designation coming from her father's title, Duke of York. Since her marriage, she has been styled "Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank", in the Court Circular.

Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent the first, third & fifth points charged with a Thistle head proper.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. (born 1964) third son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. The coat of arms was granted in 1983.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Tudor rose, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a child of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Arms of HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. (born 1964) third son of Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. The coat of arms was granted in 1983.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of three points Argent the central point charged with an Tudor rose.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. (born 1944) second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (third son of King George V) and Alice Montagu Douglas Scott. The coat of arms was granted in 1962.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the centre and two outer points charged with a cross Gules, and the inner points with a lion passant guardant also of Gules, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Arms of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. (born 1944) second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (third son of King George V) & Alice Montagu Douglas Scott. The coat of arms was granted in 1962.

Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the centre & two outer points charged with a cross Gules, & the inner points with a lion passant guardant also of Gules.

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. (born 1935) first son of Prince George, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George V) and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1948.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the first, third and fifth points charged with a anchor Azure, and the second and fourth points with a cross Gules, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs & reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Arms of HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. (born 1935) first son of Prince George, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George V) & Princess Marina of Greece & Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1948.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the first, third & fifth points charged with a anchor Azure, & the second & fourth points with a cross Gules.

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Coat of Arms of HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. (born 1936) only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George V) and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1961.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the first and fifth points bear a heart Gules, the second and fourth points bear an anchor Azure, and the third point bears a cross Gules, the lozenge ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Arms of HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. (born 1936) only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George V) & Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1961.

Blazon; Quarterly, 1st & 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed & langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the first & fifth points bear a heart Gules, the second & fourth points bear an anchor Azure, & the third point bears a cross Gules, the lozenge ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the Garter, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined & unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs & reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Prince Michael of Kent

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Michael of Kent. (born 1942) second son of Prince George, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George V) and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1962.

Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), 3rd quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), with over all a label of five points Argent, the first, third and fifth points bear a cross Gules, and the second and fourth points bear an anchor Azure, the escutcheon ensigned by a coronet of a grandchild of the Sovereign, the whole surrounded by the ribbon and badge of the Royal Victorian Order as Knight Grand Cross, for a crest on a coronet of his rank, thereon a lion statant guardant Or crowned of the same coronet charged with a label as in the arms, for supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned by the same coronet, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with the same coronet, attached thereto a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, both charged on the shoulder with a label as in the arms.

Modern royal consorts

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Coat of Arms of HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 1921) granted in 1949 to Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark (Sir Philip Mountbatten) consort to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In 1947 the Prince was made Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich by King George VI.

The coat of arms represents his lineage as a Prince of Greece and Denmark on his paternal side and his descent of the Mountbatten family on his maternal side.

Blazon: Quarterly, First Or, semée of hearts Gules, three lions passant in pale Azure (For Denmark), Second Azure, a cross Argent (For Greece), Third Argent, two pallets Sable (For Battenberg or Mountbatten), Fourth Argent, upon a rock Proper a castle triple towered Sable, masoned Argent, windows, port, turret-caps and vanes Gules (For Edinburgh), the whole surrounded by the Garter; for a crest, upon a coronet of a son of the sovereign Proper, the royal helm Or, upon which issuant from a ducal coronet Or, a plume of five ostrich feathers alternately Sable and Argent; Mantling Or and ermine; for Supporters, dexter, a representation of Hercules girt about the loins with a lion skin, crowned with a chaplet of oak leaves, holding in the dexter hand a club Proper, sinister, a lion queue fourchée ducally crowned Or and gorged with a naval coronet Azure; Motto ’God Is My Help’.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

hield of Arms of HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 1921) granted in 1949 to Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark (Sir Philip Mountbatten) consort to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In 1947 the Prince was made Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich by King George VI. The shield of arms represents his lineage as a Prince of Greece and Denmark on his paternal side and his descent of the Mountbatten family on his maternal side.

Blazon: Quarterly, First Or, semée of hearts Gules, three lions passant in pale Azure (For Denmark), Second Azure, a cross Argent (For Greece), Third Argent, two pallets Sable (For Battenberg or Mountbatten), Fourth Argent, upon a rock Proper a castle triple towered Sable, masoned Argent, windows, port, turret-caps and vanes Gules (For Edinburgh).

Camila, Duchess of Cornwall

Coat of Arms of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wife of Charles, Prince of Wales with the circlet of the Royal Victorian Order (awarded in 2012) The arms of the Prince of Wales impaled with those of her father, Major Bruce Shand, crowned with the single-arched Coronet of Prince of Wales.

Camila, Duchess of Cornwall

Coat of Arms of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (born 1947), wife of Charles, Prince of Wales (2005-present)

On the Duchess's 58th birthday, Clarence House announced that Camilla had been granted by the Queen a coat of arms for her own personal use. It was reported that the Queen, Charles, & Camilla all took a "keen interest" in the arms' creation, & they were prepared by Peter Gwynn-Jones, Garter Principal King of Arms. The Duchess's coat of arms impale the Prince's main coat of arms to the dexter, with her father's coat of arms to the sinister.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

The coat of arms of HRH Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. The coat of arms depict the arms of her husband (Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge) impaled with those of her father Michael Middleton.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

The Arms of HRH, the Duchess of Cambridge (born 1982). The coat of arms depict the arms of her husband (Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge) impaled with those of her father Michael Middleton.

The Middleton family’s heraldic design (right half of the shield) was commissioned by Kate’s father in time for the marriage of his daughter to Prince William.

The oak tree is a traditional symbol of England & strength, & is a feature of West Berkshire where her family have lived for more than thirty years. The three sprigs of acorn represent Michael & Carole Middleton’s three children.

The inverted ‘V’ or chevron symbolises Kate’s mother Carole Middleton in the centre of the family, and is gold as her maiden name is ‘Goldsmith’.

The thin white chevrononels above & below the gold chevron, symbolise peaks & mountains, reflecting the family love of the Lake District & skiing.

Meghan Duchess of Sussex

The arms of the Duchess of Sussex

The arms of the Duke of Sussex impaled with those of her own design, crowned with the coronet of a child of the heir-apparent.

The Arms of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born 1981). The wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Meghan bears the arms of her husband impaled with her own. Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms, the senior officer of the College of Arms, helped the Duchess with the design, which was approved by the Queen. Arms granted 25 May 2018.

The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of the Duchess's home state. The three quills represent communication & the power of words. Beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California's state flower, & wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace. The songbird with wings elevated as if flying & an open beak represents the power of communication.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

The arms of the Duchess of Sussex

The arms of the Duke of Sussex impaled with those of her own design.

The Arms of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born 1981). The wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Meghan bears the arms of her husband impaled with her own. Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms, the senior officer of the College of Arms, helped the Duchess with the design, which was approved by the Queen. Arms granted 25 May 2018.

The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of the Duchess's home state. The three quills represent communication & the power of words,

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Coat of Arms of Sophie, Countess of Wessex, wife of Edward, Earl of Wessex (1999-present)

The arms of the Earl of Wessex impaled with those granted in 1999 to her father, Christopher Rhys-Jones, with remainder to his elder brother Theo. The new grant was based on an unregistered 200-year-old design. The lion alludes to one of the Countess' ancestors the Welsh knight Elystan Glodrydd, prince of Ferrig (represented by the lion).

The colours of red & blue are also the colours of the Royal Fusiliers Regiment, in which members of her family have served. She is quoted saying: "It's wonderful, I'm absolutely thrilled", "It's not modern & different, because it is representative of my family's heritage, so it's in keeping with that."

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Coat of Arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, wife of Prince Richard.

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Coat of arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (born 1946) the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, depicting her husband's armorial bearings surmounted by an escutcheon of pretence granted to her by Royal Warrant, since 1973.

The Duke of Gloucester's arms and in the centre an escutcheon of pretence Azure a lapwing proper, on a chief Or two pairs of ostrich feathers in saltire Sable

Katharine, Duchess of Kent

Coat of Arms of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

The arms of the Duke of Kent impaled with those of her father, Sir William Arthington Worsley, 4th Baronet.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent

Coat of Arms of Katharine, Duchess of Kent (born 1933), the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Depicting HRH The Duke of Kent's arms impaled with those of her father, Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet.

Princess Michael of Kent

Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz (born 1945), & the wife of Prince Michael of Kent.

Arms of Princess Michael of Kent, depicting her husband's arms impaled with her patrilineal von Reibnitz coat of arms.

Princess Michael of Kent

Royal Houses

The House of Wessex

The Golden Wyvern, associated with the House of Wessex.

The House of Normandy

The House of Normandy - description; Gules, two lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langued azure, used as the inofficial "coat of arms of Normandy". Coat of arms attributed to "Arms of William the Conqueror (William I of England)"

The House of Blois

The House of Blois is a lineage derived from the Frankish nobility, whose principal members were often named Theobald.

King Stephen I of England, 1135–1154, was both a member of the House of Blois & the last Anglo-Norman King, being the grandson of William the Conqueror through his daughter Adela of Normandy.

Henry I of England left no legitimate male heirs, his son William Adelin having died in the White Ship disaster. This ended the direct Norman line of kings in England. Henry named his eldest daughter, the dowager Empress Matilda as his heir. Before naming Matilda as heir, however, he had been in negotiations to name his nephew Stephen of Blois as his heir. When Henry died, Stephen invaded England, & in a coup d'etat had himself crowned instead of Matilda.

The period which followed is known as The Anarchy, as parties supporting each side fought in open warfare on both Britain & on the continent for the better part of two decades.

House of Plantagenet

Royal Arms of England (1198 - 1340)

The House of Plantagenet takes its name from Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, husband of the Empress Matilda & father of Henry II.

The name Plantagenet itself was unknown as a family name per se until Richard of York adopted it as his family name in the 15th century. It has since been retroactively applied to English monarchs from Henry II onward.

It is common among modern historians to refer to Henry II & his sons as the "Angevins" due to their vast continental Empire, & most of the Angevin kings before John spent more time in their continental possessions than in England.

It is from the time of Henry III, after the loss of most of the family's continental possessions, that the Plantagenet kings became more English in nature.

The Houses of Lancaster & York are cadet branches of the House of Plantagenet.

House of Lancaster

The House of Lancaster was the name of two cadet branches of the royal House of Plantagenet.

The first house was created when Henry III of England created the Earldom of Lancaster—from which the house was named—for his second son Edmund Crouchback in 1267. Edmund had already been created Earl of Leicester in 1265 and was granted the lands & privileges of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, after de Montfort's death & attainder at the end of the Second Barons' War. When Edmund's son Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, inherited his father-in-law's estates & title of Earl of Lincoln he became at a stroke the most powerful nobleman in England, with lands throughout the kingdom & the ability to raise vast private armies to wield power at national and local levels. This brought him—& Henry, his younger brother—into conflict with their cousin Edward II of England, leading to Thomas's execution. Henry inherited Thomas's titles & he & his son, who was also called Henry, gave loyal service to Edward's son—Edward III of England.

The second house of Lancaster was descended from John of Gaunt, who married the heiress of the first house.

Edward III married all his sons to wealthy English heiresses rather than following his predecessors' practice of finding continental political marriages for royal princes. Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, had no male heir so Edward married his son John to Henry's heiress daughter & John's third cousin Blanche of Lancaster. This gave John the vast wealth of the House of Lancaster.

Their son Henry usurped the throne in 1399, creating one of the factions in the Wars of the Roses.

There was an intermittent dynastic struggle between the descendants of Edward III. In these wars, the term Lancastrian became a reference to members of the family & their supporters.

The family provided England with three kings: Henry IV, who ruled from 1399 to 1413, Henry V (1413–1422), & Henry VI (1422–1461 and 1470–1471).

The House became extinct in the male line upon the murder in the Tower of London of Henry VI, following the battlefield execution of his son Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, by supporters of the House of York in 1471.

Lancastrian cognatic descent—from John of Gaunt & Blanche of Lancaster's daughter Phillipa—continued in the royal houses of Spain & Portugal while the Lancastrian political cause was maintained by Henry Tudor—a relatively unknown scion of the Beauforts—eventually leading to the establishment of the House of Tudor.

The Lancastrians left a legacy through the patronage of the arts—most notably in founding Eton College & King's College, Cambridge—but to historians' chagrin their propaganda, & that of their Tudor successors, means that it is Shakespeare's partly fictionalized history plays rather than medievalist scholarly research that has the greater influence on modern perceptions of the dynasty

House of York

The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became Kings of England in the late 15th century.

The House of York was descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented Edward's senior line, being cognatic descendants of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Edward III's second surviving son.

It is based on these descents that they claimed the English crown.

Compared with the House of Lancaster, it had a senior claim to the throne of England according to cognatic primogeniture but junior claim according to the agnatic primogeniture.

The reign of this dynasty ended with the death of Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

It became extinct in the male line with the death of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick in 1499.

The House of Tudor

The House of Tudor was an English royal house of Welsh origin, descended in the male line from the Tudors of Penmynydd. Tudor monarchs ruled the Kingdom of England & its realms, including their ancestral Wales and the Lordship of Ireland (later the Kingdom of Ireland) from 1485 until 1603, with five monarchs in that period.

The Tudors succeeded the House of Plantagenet as rulers of the Kingdom of England, & were succeeded by the House of Stuart. The first Tudor monarch, Henry VII of England, descended through his mother from a legitimised branch of the English royal House of Lancaster.

The Tudor family rose to power in the wake of the Wars of the Roses, which left the House of Lancaster, to which the Tudors were aligned, extinct.

Henry Tudor was able to establish himself as a candidate not only for traditional Lancastrian supporters, but also for the discontented supporters of their rival House of York, & he rose to the throne by the right of conquest. His victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field was reinforced by his marriage to the English princess Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, symbolically uniting the former warring factions under a new dynasty.

The Tudors extended their power beyond modern England, achieving the full union of England & the Principality of Wales in 1542 (Laws in Wales Acts 1535 & 1542), & successfully asserting English authority over the Kingdom of Ireland.

They also maintained the nominal English claim to the Kingdom of France; although none of them made substance of it, Henry VIII fought wars with France trying to reclaim that title. After him, his daughter Mary I lost control of all territory in France permanently with the fall of Calais in 1558.

In total, five Tudor monarchs ruled their domains for just over a century.

Henry VIII was the only son of Henry VII to live to the age of maturity. Issues around the royal succession (including marriage & the succession rights of women) became major political themes during the Tudor era.

The House of Stuart, descended from Henry VII's daughter Margaret, came to power in 1603 when Elizabeth I died and the Tudor line failed.

House of Stuart

The House of Stuart, originally Stewart, was a European royal house that originated in Scotland. The dynasty's patrilineal, putatively Breton ancestors had held the office of High Steward of Scotland since the 12th century, after arriving by way of Norman England.

The royal Stewart line was founded by Robert II, & they were Kings & Queens of Scots from the late 14th century until the union with England in 1707. Mary, Queen of Scots, was brought up in France, where she adopted the French spelling of the name, Stuart. Her son, James VI of Scotland, inherited the thrones of England & Ireland upon the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.

Except for the period of the Commonwealth, 1649–1660, the Stuarts were monarchs of the British Isles & its growing empire, until the death of Queen Anne in 1714.

In total, nine Stewart/Stuart monarchs ruled Scotland alone from 1371 until 1603.

James VI of Scotland then inherited the realms of Elizabeth I of England, becoming James I of England & Ireland in the Union of the Crowns.

Following the Glorious Revolution in 1688, two Stuart queens ruled the isles: Mary II & Anne. Both were the Protestant daughters of James VII and II by his first wife. Their father had converted to Catholicism & his new wife gave birth to a son in 1688, who would be brought up a Roman Catholic & would precede his half-sisters; so James was deposed by Parliament in 1689, in favour of his daughters. But neither had any children who survived to adulthood, so under the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701 & the Act of Security 1704, the crown passed to the House of Hanover on the death of Queen Anne in 1714.

During the reign of the Stuarts, Scotland developed from a relatively poor & feudal country into a prosperous, modern & centralised state. They ruled during the transitive period in European history between the Middle Ages, via the Renaissance, to the midpoint of the early modern period.

Monarchs such as James IV were known for sponsoring exponents of the Northern Renaissance such as the poet Robert Henryson, among others. After the Stuarts reigned over all of Great Britain, the arts and sciences continued to develop; William Shakespeare wrote many of his best known plays during the Jacobean era, while institutions such as the Royal Society and the Royal Mail were established during the reign of Charles II.

House of Orange-Nassau

William III ruled jointly with his wife Queen Marty II, he was from the House of Orange-Nassau.

Royal Coat of Arms of the Netherlands

House of Hanover

The House of Hanover (German: Haus Hannover), whose members are known as Hanoverians, is a German royal house that ruled Hanover, Great Britain, and Ireland at various times during the 17th through 20th centuries. The house originated in 1635 as a cadet branch of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, growing in prestige until Hanover became an Electorate in 1692.

George I became the first Hanoverian monarch of Great Britain and Ireland in 1714. At Victoria's death in 1901, the throne of the United Kingdom passed to her eldest son Edward VII, a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The last reigning members of the House lost the Duchy of Brunswick in 1918 when Germany became a republic.

The formal name of the house was the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Hanover line. The senior line of Brunswick-Lüneburg, which ruled Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, became extinct in 1884.

The House of Hanover is now the only surviving branch of the House of Welf, which is the senior branch of the House of Este.

The current head of the House of Hanover is Ernst August, Prince of Hanover.

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (German: Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) is a German dynasty that ruled the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which was one of the Ernestine duchies. It is a cadet branch of the Saxon House of Wettin.

Founded by Ernest Anton, the sixth duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, it has been the royal house of several European monarchies.

Agnatic branches currently reign in Belgium through the descendants of Leopold I and in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms through the descendants of Prince Albert.

Due to anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I, George V changed the name of his branch from "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" to "Windsor" in 1917.

The same happened in 1920 in Belgium, where the name was changed to "van België" (Dutch) or "de Belgique" (French) or "von Belgien" (German), meaning "of Belgium".

House of Windsor

The House of Windsor is the reigning royal house of the United Kingdom & the other Commonwealth realms.

The dynasty is of German paternal descent & was originally a branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, itself derived from the House of Wettin, which succeeded the House of Hanover to the British monarchy following the death of Queen Victoria, wife of Albert, Prince Consort.

The name was changed from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor (from "Windsor Castle") in 1917 because of anti-German sentiment in the British Empire during World War I.

There have been four British monarchs of the house of Windsor to date: three kings & the present queen, Elizabeth II.

During the reign of the Windsors, major changes took place in British society.

The British Empire participated in the First & Second World Wars, ending up on the winning side both times, but subsequently lost its status as a superpower during decolonisation.

Much of Ireland broke with the United Kingdom & the remnants of the Empire became the Commonwealth of Nations.

The current head of the house is monarch of sixteen sovereign states.

These are the United Kingdom (where they are based), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

As well as these separate monarchies, there are also three Crown dependencies, fourteen British Overseas Territories & two associated states of New Zealand.

English Consorts

The English royal consorts were the spouses of the reigning monarchs of the Kingdom of England who were not themselves monarchs of England: spouses of some English monarchs who were themselves English monarchs are not listed, comprising Mary I & Philip who reigned together in the 16th century, & William III & Mary II who reigned together in the 17th century. These coat of arms represent these consorts in our royal history.

Most of the consorts are women, & enjoyed titles & honours pertaining to a queen consort; some few are men, whose titles were not consistent, depending upon the circumstances of their spouses' reigns.

The Kingdom of England merged with the Kingdom of Scotland in 1707, to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. There have thus been no consorts of England since that date.

The consorts prior to Isabella of Angoulême have no known coat of arms so are not included in this list.

Isabella of Angoulême

Isabella of Angoulême (French: Isabelle d'Angoulême), (c. 1186/1188 – 4 June 1246) was queen consort of England as the second wife of King John from 1200 until John's death in 1216. She was also suo jure Countess of Angoulême from 1202 until 1246.

Isabella had five children by the king, including his heir, later Henry III. In 1220, Isabella married Hugh X of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, by whom she had another nine children.

Eleanor of Provence

Eleanor of Provence (c. 1223 – 24/25 June 1291) was Queen consort of England, as the spouse of King Henry III of England, from 1236 until his death in 1272.

She served as regent of England during the absence of her spouse in 1253.

Although she was completely devoted to her husband, & staunchly defended him against the rebel Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, she was very much hated by the Londoners.

This was because she had brought a large number of relatives with her to England in her retinue; these were known as "the Savoyards", & they were given influential positions in the government & realm.

On one occasion, Eleanor's barge was attacked by angry citizens who pelted her with stones, mud, pieces of paving, rotten eggs & vegetables.

Eleanor was the mother of five children, including the future King Edward I of England.

She also was renowned for her cleverness, skill at writing poetry, & as a leader of fashion.

Eleanor of Castile

Eleanor of Castile (1241 – 28 November 1290) was an English queen, the first wife of Edward I, whom she married as part of a political deal to affirm English sovereignty over Gascony.

The marriage was known to be particularly close, & Eleanor travelled extensively with her husband.

She was with him on the Ninth Crusade, when he was wounded at Acre, but the popular story of her saving his life by sucking out the poison has long been discredited.

When she died, at Harby near Lincoln, her husband famously ordered a stone cross to be erected at each stopping-place on the journey to London, ending at Charing Cross.

Eleanor was better educated than most medieval queens & exerted a strong cultural influence on the nation.

She was a keen patron of literature, & encouraged the use of tapestries, carpets & tableware in the Spanish style, as well as innovative garden designs.

She was also a successful businesswoman, endowed with her own fortune as Countess of Ponthieu.

Margaret of France

Margaret of France (c. 1279 – 14 February 1318) was Queen of England as the second wife of King Edward I.

She was a daughter of Philip III of France & Maria of Brabant.

Isabella of France

Isabella of France (1295 – 22 August 1358), sometimes described as the She-Wolf of France, was Queen of England as the wife of Edward II, & regent of England from 1326 until 1330.

She was the youngest surviving child & only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France & Joan I of Navarre.

Queen Isabella was notable at the time for her beauty, diplomatic skills, & intelligence.

Philippa of Hainault

Philippa of Hainault ( 24 June c.1310/15 – 15 August 1369) was Queen of England as the wife of King Edward III. Edward promised in 1326 to marry her within the following two years.

She was married to Edward, first by proxy, when Edward dispatched the Bishop of Coventry "to marry her in his name" in Valenciennes (second city in importance of the county of Hainaut) in October 1327.

The marriage was celebrated formally in York Minster on 24 January 1328, some months after Edward's accession to the throne of England. In August 1328, he also fixed his wife's dower.

Philippa acted as regent in 1346, when her husband was away from his kingdom, & she often accompanied him on his expeditions to Scotland, France, & Flanders.

Philippa won much popularity with the English people for her kindness & compassion, which were demonstrated in 1347 when she successfully persuaded King Edward to spare the lives of the Burghers of Calais.

This popularity helped maintain peace in England throughout Edward's long reign.

The eldest of her thirteen children was Edward, the Black Prince, who became a renowned military leader. Philippa died at the age of fifty-six from an illness closely related to edema.

The Queen's College, Oxford was founded in her honour.

Anne of Bohemia

Anne of Bohemia (11 May 1366 – 7 June 1394) was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II.

A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor & King of Bohemia, & Elizabeth of Pomerania.

She died at age of 28 after 12 years of marriage; she was childless, & greatly mourned by her husband.

The marriage was initially unpopular in England inasmuch as, even though Anne's father was perhaps the most powerful monarch in Europe, his relatively distant area of influence could give little trade or political advantage to England, & Anne brought no dowry; instead Richard had to pay her brother a sum.

But Anne appears to have won many English people over with her personality, & her efforts to help obtain royal pardons.

Her father's court, based in Prague, was a centre of the International Gothic style, then at its height, & her arrival seems to coincide with, and probably caused, new influences on English art.

The Crown of Princess Blanche, now in Munich, may have been made for Anne, either in Prague or Paris.

She had four brothers, including Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, & one younger sister, Margaret of Bohemia, Burgravine of Nuremberg.

She also had five half-siblings from her father's previous marriages. Anne is buried in Westminster Abbey beside her husband.

Isabella of Valois

Isabella of Valois (also known as Isabella of France (9 November 1389 – 13 September 1409) was Queen consort of England as the second spouse of King Richard II. Her parents were King Charles VI of France & Isabeau of Bavaria.

She married the king at the age of seven & was widowed three years later.

She later married Charles, Duke of Orléans, dying in childbirth at the age of nineteen.

Isabella's younger sister, Catherine, was Queen of England from 1420 until 1422, married to Henry V & mother of Henry VI.

Catherine was also a grandmother of Henry VII.

Joan of Navarre

Joan of Navarre, also known as Joanna (c. 1370 – 10 June 1437) was Duchess of Brittany by marriage to Duke John IV, & later Queen of England by marriage to King Henry IV.

She served as regent of Brittany from 1399 until 1403 during the minority of her son.

She also served as regent of England during the absence of her stepson in 1415.

She was a daughter of King Charles II of Navarre & Joan of France.

Catherine of Valois

Catherine of Valois (27 October 1401 – 3 January 1437) was the queen consort of England from 1420 until 1422.

A daughter of Charles VI of France, she married Henry V of England, & gave birth to his heir Henry VI of England. Her liaison (& possible secret marriage) with Owen Tudor proved the springboard of that family's fortunes, eventually leading to their grandson's elevation as Henry VII of England.

Catherine's older sister Isabella was queen of England from 1396 until 1399, as the child bride of Richard II.

Margaret of Anjou

Margaret of Anjou (23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482) was the Queen of England by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 & again from 1470 to 1471. Born in the Duchy of Lorraine into the House of Valois-Anjou, Margaret was the second eldest daughter of René, King of Naples, & Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine.

She was one of the principal figures in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses & at times personally led the Lancastrian faction.

Owing to her husband's frequent bouts of insanity, Margaret ruled the kingdom in his place.

It was she who called for a Great Council in May 1455 that excluded the Yorkist faction headed by Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, & this provided the spark that ignited a civil conflict that lasted for more than 30 years, decimated the old nobility of England, & caused the deaths of thousands of men, including her only son Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

Margaret was taken prisoner by the victorious Yorkists after the Lancastrian defeat at Tewkesbury.

In 1475, she was ransomed by her cousin, King Louis XI of France.

She went to live in France as a poor relation of the French king, & she died there at the age of 52.

Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville (also spelled Wydville, Wydeville, or Widvile) (c. 1437 – 8 June 1492) was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483.

At the time of her birth, her family was mid-ranked in the English aristocracy; her mother Jacquetta of Luxembourg had previously been an aunt by marriage to Henry VI. Elizabeth's first marriage was to a minor supporter of the House of Lancaster, Sir John Grey of Groby; he died at the Second Battle of St Albans, leaving Elizabeth a widowed mother of two sons.

Her second marriage, to Edward IV, was a cause célèbre of the day, thanks to Elizabeth's great beauty & lack of great estates.

Edward was the first king of England since the Norman Conquest to marry one of his subjects, & Elizabeth was the first such consort to be crowned queen. Her marriage greatly enriched her siblings & children, but their advancement incurred the hostility of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker', & his various alliances with the most senior figures in the increasingly divided royal family.

This hostility turned into open discord between King Edward & Warwick, leading to a battle of wills that finally resulted in Warwick switching allegiance to the Lancastrian cause, & to the execution of Elizabeth's father Richard Woodville in 1469.

After the death of her husband in 1483 Elizabeth remained politically influential even after her son, briefly proclaimed King Edward V of England, was deposed by her brother-in-law, Richard III, & she would play an important role in securing the accession of Henry VII to the throne in 1485, which ended the Wars of the Roses.

After 1485, although her daughter Elizabeth of York married Henry VII & became the mother of Henry VIII, she was forced to yield pre-eminence to Henry's mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, & her influence on events in these years, & her eventual departure from court into retirement, remains obscure.

Anne Neville

Anne Neville (11 June 1456 – 16 March 1485) was an English queen, the daughter of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (the "Kingmaker").

She became Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster & then Queen of England as the wife of King Richard III.

As a member of the powerful House of Neville, she played a critical part in the Wars of the Roses fought between the House of York & House of Lancaster for the English crown.

Her father Warwick betrothed her as a girl to Edward, Prince of Wales, the son of Henry VI.

The marriage was to seal an alliance to the House of Lancaster & halt the civil war between the two houses of Lancaster & York.

After the death of Edward, the Dowager Princess of Wales married Richard, Duke of Gloucester, brother of Edward IV & of George, Duke of Clarence, the husband of Anne Neville's older sister Isabel.

Anne Neville became queen when Richard III ascended the throne in June 1483, following the declaration that Edward IV's children by Elizabeth Woodville were illegitimate.

Anne Neville predeceased her husband by five months, dying in March 1485.

Her only child was Edward of Middleham, who predeceased her.

Elizabeth of York

Elizabeth of York (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503) was the wife of Henry VII & the first Tudor queen.

She was the daughter of Edward IV & niece of Richard III, & she married Henry in 1485, following the latter's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, which started the last phase of the Wars of the Roses. Together, she and Henry had a total of four sons, three of whom died before their father, leaving their brother, Henry VIII, to succeed his father as king.

The period of Henry VI's Readeption from October 1470 until April 1471 & the period between her father's death in 1483, when she was 17, & the making of peace between her mother & her uncle Richard were violent & anxious interludes in what was mostly a peaceful life.

Her two brothers, the so-called "Princes in the Tower", disappeared, their fate uncertain. Although declared illegitimate she was welcomed back to court by her uncle Richard III, along with all of her sisters.

As a Yorkist princess, the final victory of the Lancastrian faction in the War of the Roses may have seemed a further disaster, but Henry Tudor knew the importance of Yorkist support for his invasion & promised to marry her before he arrived in England; this was an important move; one which may well have contributed to hemorrhaging of Yorkist adherence to Richard III.

She was the queen consort of England from 1486 until her death in 1503 but seems to have played little part in politics. Her marriage seems to have been successful.

Her eldest son Arthur, Prince of Wales, died at age 15 in 1502 & three other children died young.

Her surviving children became king of England & queens of France & Scotland; it is through the Scottish Stuart dynasty that her many modern royal descendants trace their line.

Katharine of Aragon

Katharine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536), was Queen of England from June 1509 until May 1533 as the first wife of King Henry VIII; she was previously Princess of Wales as the wife of Henry's elder brother Arthur.

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII.

Henry's marriage to her, & her subsequent execution by beheading, made her a key figure in the political & religious upheaval that was the start of the English Reformation.

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour (c. 1508 – 24 October 1537) was Queen of England from 1536 to 1537 as the third wife of King Henry VIII.

She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution in May 1536.

She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, a son who became King Edward VI.

She was the only one of Henry's wives to receive a queen's funeral, & his only consort to be buried beside him in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves (22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557) was Queen of England from 6 January to 9 July 1540 as the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.

The marriage was declared unconsummated &, as a result, she was not crowned queen consort.

Following the annulment, she was given a generous settlement by the King, & thereafter referred to as the King's Beloved Sister. She lived to see the coronation of Queen Mary I, outliving the rest of Henry's wives.

Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard (c. 1523 – 13 February 1542) was Queen of England from 1540 until 1541, as the fifth wife of Henry VIII.

She (then aged 16 or 17) married him (then 49) on 28 July 1540, at Oatlands Palace, in Surrey, almost immediately after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves was arranged.

Catherine was stripped of her title as queen within 16 months, in November 1541.

She was beheaded three months later, on the grounds of treason for committing adultery while married to Henry, similarly to Anne Boleyn.

Catherine Parr

Catherine Parr (sometimes alternatively spelled Katherine, Katheryn or Katharine, signed 'Kateryn the Quene KP') (1512 – 7 September 1548) was Queen of England & Ireland (1543–47) as the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII, & the final queen consort of the House of Tudor.

She married him on 12 July 1543, & outlived him by one year. With four husbands she is the most-married English queen.

Anne of Denmark

Anne of Denmark (12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was Queen consort of Scotland, England, & Ireland by marriage to King James VI and I.

Henrietta Maria of France

Henrietta Maria of France (25 November 1609 – 10 September 1669) was queen consort of England, Scotland, & Ireland as the wife of King Charles I.

She was mother of his two immediate successors, Charles II and James II/VII.

Catherine of Braganza

Catherine of Braganza (25 November 1638 – 31 December 1705) was queen consort of England, of Scotland and of Ireland from 1662 to 1685, as the wife of King Charles II.

She was the daughter of King John IV, who became the first king of Portugal from the House of Braganza in 1640 after overthrowing the rule of the Spanish Habsburgs over Portugal.

Catherine served as regent of Portugal during the absence of her brother in 1701 & during 1704–1705, after her return to her homeland as a widow.

Mary of Modena

Mary of Modena (5 October 1658 – 7 May 1718) was Queen of England, Scotland, & Ireland as the second wife of James II and VII (1633–1701).

A devout Roman Catholic, Mary married the widowed James, who was then the younger brother & heir presumptive of Charles II (1630–1685).

She was uninterested in politics & devoted to James & their children, two of whom survived to adulthood: the Jacobite claimant to the thrones, James Francis Edward, & Louisa Maria Teresa.

Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland

Arms of Prince George of Denmark & Norway, Duke of Cumberland (2 April 1653 – 28 October 1708), was the husband of Queen Anne, who reigned over Great Britain from 1702 to 1714. This Coat of Arms was at the time his spouse was Queen Anne of England, before 1 May 1707 & the
Creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain

British Consorts

A royal consort is the spouse of a ruling king or queen. Consorts of monarchs in the United Kingdom & its predecessors have no constitutional status or power but many had significant influence over their spouse. Some royal consorts, such as current consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, have also helped to enhance the image of the Monarchy by becoming celebrities in their own right. Prince Philip is the longest-serving & oldest-ever consort.

His mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who died aged 101, lived longer but at the time of her death she did not hold the position of consort, as her husband King George VI died 50 years before her.

Since the foundation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, it & the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland have had ten royal consorts.

Queens between 1727 and 1814 were also Electress of Hanover, as their husbands all held the title of Elector of Hanover. Between 1814 & 1837, queens held the title as Queen of Hanover, as their husbands were Kings of Hanover.

The personal union with the United Kingdom ended in 1837 on the accession of Queen Victoria because the succession laws (Salic Law) in Hanover prevented a female inheriting the title if there was any surviving male heir (in the United Kingdom, a male took precedence over only his own sisters, until the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 which removed male primogeniture).

Not all wives of monarchs have become consorts, as they may have died, been divorced, had their marriage declared invalid prior to their husbands' ascending the throne, or married after abdication. Such as Wallis Warfield Simpson, wife of Edward VIII (as Duke of Windsor), & therefore not the wife of a reigning king, married 3 June 1937, died 24 April 1986.

All female consorts have had the right to be & have been styled as queens consort. However, of the three British male consorts to have existed since 1707, none was considered king consort:

Prince George of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne likewise never received the official style of Prince Consort, but was raised to the peerage of England as the Duke of Cumberland in 1689, before his wife's accession in 1702.

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Queen Victoria, did not take an English peerage title but was granted the title of Prince Consort as a distinct title, in 1857, the only male consort in either the United Kingdom or its predecessor realms to have officially held the title. It was suggested at first that he would in fact become King, but this was decided against by the Government.

Prince Philip of Greece & Denmark, husband of Elizabeth II, already raised to the peerage as Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, was made a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957. He is not styled as Prince Consort.

Since 1707, only George I & Edward VIII have been unmarried throughout their reign.

Kingdoms of England & Scotland

Kingdom of England

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Kingdom of Scotland

The Union of the Crowns places England, Ireland & Scotland under one monarch

At the Union creating Great Britain in 1707, arms were adopted for the new kingdom, & again in 1801 at the Union creating the United Kingdom

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English Consorts

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