#heraldry

#heraldry

The coat of arms, once a familiar sight in London, was first granted to the Greater London Council (GLC) in October 1966, but when the GLC was abolished, the armorial was put into abeyance. Most municipal authorities have a coat of arms, but when the GLA was created in 2000, it didn't apply for one. Coats of Arms in most of the UK (except Scotland) are granted and managed by the College of Arms, under powers delegated to it by the Crown.

Three lions have been used as England's football emblem since the formation of the Football Association in 1863. England wore the badge in their first official international match against Scotland in 1872 - but the symbol has much deeper roots stretching back to the 12th century. The animal has been associated with the Royal Family since Henry I (1100-1135) included a single lion in his coat of arms.

Philip I of Castile made his expectations for the painter perfectly clear: His daughters Eleanor and Isabella, positioned to the left and right of his son Charles, were not to appear pale or sickly. Instead, they were to embody vibrant life rosy-cheeked, dressed in splendid garments, and as beautiful as can be. The painting, completed in 1502, was then replicated multiple times

Tim Noad, the heraldic designer of King Charles' cypher, has been honored with an MBE for his contributions to calligraphy and heraldry.