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The Royal Standard

July 2005

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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