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The Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United
Kingdom. It is flown when Her Majesty the Queen is in residence
in one of the Royal Palaces, on the Queen's car on official
journeys, and on aircraft that she uses, when on the ground.
It may also be flown on any building, official or private
during a visit by the Queen, if the owner or proprieter so
requests.
Since the Union of the crowns of England, Scotland and Ireland,
the composition of the Royal Standard has taken various forms.
In today's Standard there are four quarterings - two for England
(three lions passant), one for Scotland (a lion rampart) and
one for Ireland (a harp).
Wales is not represented in the Royal Standard, as a Principality
was recognised by the creation of the Prince of Wales long
before the incorporation of the quarterings for Scotland and
Ireland in the Royal Arms.
In Scotland, a different version of the Royal Standard is
used, with two Scottish quarterings instead of two English
quarterings.
Members of the Royal Family have their own personal variants
on the Royal Standard. The Prince of Wales has additional
Standards, which he uses in Wales and Scotland.
The Royal Coat of Arms of King William III and Queen Mary
II
In 1689 James II was deposed by Parliament and William III
and Mary II were installed as joint sovereigns. The coat of
arms was quartered, with the arms of England and France placed
in the first and fourth quarters, the arms of Scotland placed
in the second quarter and the arms of Ireland in the third
quarter. To the arms was added a blue escutcheon scattered
with golden billets and a golden rampant lion, the arms of
Nassau. The motto of the House of Orange "Je Maintiendrai"
meaning "I will Maintain" was used.
The Royal Coat of Arms
The function of the Royal Coat of Arms is to identify the
person who is Head of State.
On the left, the shield is supported by the English Lion
and on the right it is supported by the Unicorn of Scotland.
The unicorn is chained because in mediaeval times a free unicorn
was considered a very dangerous beast.
The coat also features a belt surrounding the shield that
bears the motto of the Order of the Garter, "Hon Y Soit
Qui Mal Y Pense" meaning "Shame to him who evil
thinks." The motto below, "Dieu et Mon Droit,"
means "God and My Right."
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