Grenfell Tower: flag instructions
16 June 2017As a mark of respect for those that have died and been injured in the fire at Grenfell Tower, Kensington, the Prime Minister has asked that all Departments of Her Majesty's Government lower their Union Flag to half-mast from 07:00 this morning Friday 16 June 2017.
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 the Union Flag, it should be removed.
Flags will be raised to full mast no earlier than 20:00 today, but before 08:00 on Saturday 17 June.
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.
London Bridge Attack: flag instructions
04 June 2017Following the attack at London Bridge in the evening of 3 June, instructions have been received that all buildings of Her Majesty's Government should fly the Union Flag at half-mast from 0700 today 4 June 2017. 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 the Union Flag, it should be removed.
A minute's silence will be held at all UK Government Buildings on Tuesday 6 June at 1100. Others may follow suit.
Flags should remain at half-mast until at least 2000 on Tuesday 6 June and be raised to full mast before 0800 on Wednesday 7 June.
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.
Manchester: flag instructions
23 May 2017As a mark of respect for those that were killed and injured in Manchester yesterday, all Departments of Her Majesty's Government will lower their Union Flag to half-mast from 8 a.m. this morning 23 May 2017. 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 the Union Flag, it should be removed.
A minute's silence will be observed on 25 May 2017 at 11 a.m. Flags should remain at half-mast until 8 p.m. on that day and be raised to full mast before 8 a.m. on Friday 26 May.
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.
A grant of Arms, Crest and Supporters was made to the University of Salford by Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 6 January 2017. On 10 February 2017 at Maxwell Hall, Salford, the Letters Patent were presented by Timothy Duke, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, to the Chancellor of the University, Professor Jackie Kay, Makar or national poet for Scotland. An animated video on the new design can be seen here.
The Arms are blazoned:
Sable above a demi Sun issuant in base Argent charged with a demi Rose likewise issuant Gules barbed and seeded proper a Chain fesswise throughout enhanced and enarched and a Chief embattled and enarched Argent.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Sable A Lion passant guardant Gules armed langued and resting the dexter hind paw on a Shuttle fesswise Or and supporting with the dexter forepaw a Fire Beacon Sable enflamed proper tied to the pole thereof by a knot at the mid point of its length and flying to the sinister a Riband party lengthwise Argent and Sable Mantled Gules lined Argent.
Supporters: On either side a Heraldic Antelope Sable attired langued and tufted Gules teeth Argent unguled and charged on the shoulder with a Bee volant Or and resting the interior hind foot on a Mooring Bollard Gules wound round with a Rope Or all upon a Compartment comprising a Quayside of grey stone setts issuant from Waves of Water proper.
College reference: Grants 180/72.
The Order of the British Empire
11 April 2017Two new British orders of chivalry were instituted 100 years ago this year, in June 1917: the Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour. Until then, orders of chivalry were restricted both in terms of the number of awards which could be made, and the people to whom they were awarded, these being generally peers, high-ranking military personnel, members of the civil service, and those who had served the royal family. Moreover, women were eligible only for membership of a small number of the orders, there was very little that could be awarded to foreigners, and nothing specifically to recognise charitable work or, for example, contribution to the arts or science.
Both new orders had their origins in the First World War, when it was acknowledged that the current honours system was inadequate to recognise the contribution to the war effort of huge numbers of people in all walks of life, both on the field and off. A small committee was founded in early 1916 to discuss these matters and make recommendations. In July 1916 this became two committees, with some alterations and additions to their composition, and now including Sir Henry Farnham Burke, Norroy King of Arms. Reporting both to the King and the Government, and with various complex matters of precedence to take into consideration, it took around 18 months from the committee being founded for the first awards to be made.
Westminster: flag instructions
22 March 2017As a mark of respect for those that have died and been injured in Westminster today 22 March 2017, the Prime Minister has asked that all Departments of Her Majesty's Government lower their Union Flag to half-mast from 8 p.m. this evening.
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 the Union Flag, it should be removed.
All flags are to be raised to full mast no earlier than 8.00 p.m. on Friday 24 March, but before 8 a.m. on Saturday 25 March.
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.
Collingborne's Book: illustrated left is an opening from a manuscript in the archives of the College of Arms which consists of a roll of Arms dating from the mid to late fifteenth century. The original roll may have had few names, and in many places these have been supplied in a later hand. Bound into the same volume as this roll is other interesting material, including Basynges' Book, a roll of Arms on vellum of circa 1395. The volume, which has the College reference B22, was given to the College of Arms together with a number of other important manuscripts in 1669 by Thomas Povey of Grays Inn, London, treasurer to James, Duke of York.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand: Flag Instructions
13 October 2016Learning with sadness of the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, special instructions have been received that all Union flags on the buildings of Her Majesty's Government should be lowered to half mast as soon as possible today (13 October 2016) until 2000 hours tomorrow (14 October).
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 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.
Grant of a Badge to Sir John Carre of Hart co. Durham: The White Lion Society has generously given the College of Arms one of the earliest surviving patents granting a livery badge. Purchased at the Morningthorpe Manor sale on 9 September 2016, it is the grant of a badge to Sir John Carre of Hart in the Bishopric of Durham made by Thomas Wriothesley, Garter King of Arms, and John Yonge, Norroy, dated 14 March 1515/16 and bearing their armorial seals. Described as a device or cognizance, the badge is the head of a cerf (hart), so a clear pun on Sir John Carre's place of residence. It is depicted on a standard, a tapering flag with the Cross of St George in the hoist.
The patent is known to have been in the possession of the Marquess of Bristol in the 20th century, and is presumed to have been inherited by his family through the marriage in 1688 of his ancestor John Hervey, Earl of Bristol, to Isabella, daughter of Sir Robert Carr, Bt., of Sleaford in Lincolnshire. However, the link between the Carrs of Sleaford and Sir John Carre of Hart has not been established with certainty.
