Royal Coat of Arms
The Royal Coat of Arms is used by the British Monarch to identify himself as Head of State. It has developed throughout the centuries, but is now unchanged since Queen Victoria.
Features
It consits of six major elements. In the middle of the Coat of Arms, you can see the a shield that is again subdivided into four quarters. The first and the fourth quarters show the Three Golden Lions on a red background, representing England. Richard Lionheart was the first Monarch who wore the Three Lions as identification in battle. The second quarter shows the Lion of Scotland and the third shows the Harp of Ireland. Wales is not represented in the shield. Around the shield, you can read the motto of the Order of the Garter: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Evil to him who evil thinks"). Above the shield there is the Royal Crown. Under the shield you find the motto of the British Monarchs: "Dieu et mon droit" ("God and my right"). This motto was first used by King Richard I in 1198, and became the motto of the monarch under King Henry VI. Left of the shield, supporting it, there is the English Lion and on the right we can find the Unicorn of Scotland.
Scotland
In Scotland, the Royal Coat of Arms looks somewhat different. All English symbols are replaced by the Scottish ones and the other way round. The motto of the Order of the Garter is missing.