Accession of King Charles III
27 September 2022David White, Garter King of Arms, proclaimed the Accession of His Majesty King Charles III at St James's Palace, London, on 10 September 2022. Information about the Proclamation of the new Sovereign by the heralds may be seen here. The text of the Accession Proclamation has been published here, and can be downloaded as a PDF.
The Accession Proclamation was made in Scotland. Wales and Northern Ireland by other Officers of Arms: Lord Lyon King of Arms read it in Edinburgh; Wales Herald in Cardiff; and Norroy and Ulster King of Arms read it in Hillsborough.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: funeral
27 September 2022Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle.
Edward, Duke of Norfolk, G.C.V.O., Earl Marshal, was responsible for the arrangements relating to the lying-in-state, funeral and committal of Her late Majesty.
The State Funeral of Her Majesty took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September 2022. Following the Funeral, the Coffin travelled in Procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From Wellington Arch, the Coffin travelled to Windsor and once there, the State Hearse travelled in Procession to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk. A Committal Service took place in St George's Chapel. Information about the funeral and committal can be seen here. The Officers of Arms were in attendance.
At the conclusion of the Committal Service, David White, Garter King of Arms, proclaimed the styles and titles of Her late Majesty.
Royal Cypher
27 September 2022Cypher of King Charles III
His Majesty the King’s Cypher was announced today.
The cypher consists of the initial of the monarch’s name, Charles, and title, Rex, the Latin for King, together with his regnal number in Roman numerals - all beneath a representation of the Crown.
The cypher is the personal property of His Majesty and the design was selected by him from a series of ten designs prepared by the College of Arms.
The form of stylised Crown used in His Majesty’s cypher is what is sometimes termed a ‘Tudor Crown’ and differs from the stylised Crown used by the late Queen Elizabeth II which, with its higher and dipping arches, was closer in form to St Edward’s Crown.
On 22 June 2022, a Service of Thanksgiving for the birth and lasting legacy of the Elizabethan Statesman William Cecil, Lord Burghley, was held at Westminster Abbey. As part of the Service, David White, Garter Principal King of Arms, read out a proclamation of Lord Burghley's styles and titles as follows:
"Laud and praise be given unto Almighty God who by His divine power hath translated out of this transitory life unto His Eternal Glory the Right Honourable William (Cecil) Baron Burghley, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Lord High Treasurer of England, sometime Secretary of State to the Queen’s Majesty, One of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Majesty’s Lieutenant for the County of Lincoln, Her Majesty’s Lieutenant for the County of Essex, Her Majesty’s Lieutenant for the County of Hertford, Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, High Steward of Westminster, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of Dublin"
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley by Unknown artist
oil on panel, after 1587
NPG 362 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Armed Forces Day
Her Majesty's Government has indicated that to mark Armed Forces Week, Government buildings are encouraged to fly the Armed Forces Day Flag from Monday 20 June to Saturday 25 June inclusive.
Where buildings have two flag poles, the Union flag should be flown in the senior position.
If there is one flagpole and it is thought desirable to fly both flags, the Union flag should be flown above the Armed Forces Day Flag.
London Pride
Whitehall Government Buildings may also wish to fly the Rainbow Flag from Monday 27 June - Saturday 2 July inclusive to celebrate London Pride. If more than one flag is flown, the Union flag should be in the senior position.
Local authorities and other bodies and individuals are not bound by flag-flying instructions but may wish to follow them. Devolved administrations are responsible for issuing instructions for the flying of the Union Flag on buildings in their estate and others as necessary.
Enquiries regarding the correct protocols for the flying of Union and other flags should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in the first instance.
Platinum Jubilee
31 May 2022
The Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms of the College of Arms join with the whole nation in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.
In celebration of Her Majesty's 70 years of devoted service, many have decided to fly the Union flag from 08.00 on Thursday 2 June until 20.00 on Sunday 5 June. Enquiries regarding the correct protocols for the flying of Union and other flags should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in the first instance.
Following the death of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi, special instructions have been received that as a mark of respect UK Government Buildings should lower their Union Flags to half-mast from as soon as possible today, Friday 13 May until 20.00hrs on Saturday 14 May.
Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast. If a flag of a foreign nation is normally flown on the same stand as, or instead of, the Union Flag, it should be removed.
Local authorities are not bound by this request but may wish to follow it for guidance. Devolved administrations are responsible for issuing instructions for the flying of the Union Flag on buildings in their estate and others as necessary. Enquiries regarding the correct protocols for the flying of Union and other flags should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in the first instance.
Register to receive up-to-date advice from the College of Arms on official flag-flying days, instructions for flying flags at half-mast, and other relevant information, here.
Arundel Herald
11 May 2022
The Earl Marshal, with the consent of Her Majesty, has appointed Anne Elizabeth Curry to the office of Arundel Herald Extraordinary. Professor Curry is a distinguished medieval historian with research interests centered on the wars between England and France in the later middle ages. In particular she has studied and written on the Battle of Agincourt, Joan of Arc, and medieval soldiers, publishing numerous books and articles on these subjects. She played a leading role in the creation of the medieval soldier online database, and chaired the Agincourt 600 Trust which marked the 600th anniversary of the battle.
Professor Curry has also been Chair of the Battlefields Trust, a Trustee of the Royal Armouries, President of the Historical Association, Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and Master of the Fletchers’ Company. She grew up in Chester-le-Street, co. Durham, before studying at Manchester. Her academic career took her to Teesside and then to Reading, before she was appointed a Professor at the University of Southampton. She went on to be Dean of Humanities before retiring in 2019. She is now Emeritus Professor of Medieval History.
Her Majesty's Warrant of Appointment, which was dated 3 May 2022, was issued in time for Anne Curry to take part in the State Opening of Parliament on 10 May, the first woman herald ever to have done so.
Flag resources on College of Arms website: the following official resources have been made available online
Flag Flying Days 2022
Union Flag: FAQs
Union Flag: approved designs
Flags on churches
Flag-flying news by email
Illustrated left is the design of the Union Flag as proposed by the Officers of Arms and approved by Order in Council of George III on 5 November 1800. College reference: I.36/68.
Enquiries regarding the correct protocols for the flying of Union and other flags should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in the first instance.
