Coronation Roll
03 May 2024
The online version of the Coronation Roll of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was launched today. The Coronation Roll is the official record of a Coronation and the earliest surviving roll is that of King Edward II and Queen Isabella in 1308.
The text of the Coronation Roll was compiled with the assistance of Garter King of Arms and other officers of His Majesty's College of Arms. The illumination beginning the roll (illustrated left) was designed and painted by Timothy Noad, Herald-Painter at the College of Arms, and depicts The King’s Arms, St Edward’s Crown, and the plant badges of the United Kingdom. The text of the Roll was scrivened by calligrapher Stephanie von Werthern-Gill.
On 26 April 2024, Antonia Romeo, Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, signed the completed roll at the College of Arms, in the presence of Garter King of Arms and other representatives of the College of Arms, Cabinet Office and National Archives. On 1 May, the roll was presented to Their Majesties The King and Queen at Buckingham Palace. Their Majesties received Timothy Noad to thank him for his work on the roll and his other heraldic work for Their Majesties.
The online version of the roll may be seen here. An interview with Garter King of Arms may be seen here. The BBC report of the signing at the College of Arms may be seen here.
Grants of Arms to Commercial Companies: The College of Arms has published a booklet on the subject of corporate grants of arms. An online version of it may be seen here. Enquiries about grants to companies should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting in the first instance.
Commercial firms have been granted coats of arms by the College of Arms for centuries. The first such grant in the College’s ‘modern’ (post-1673) grant records was by Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms to the firm of Peter de Clux, William Sherard and Paul Clowdesley and Partners, makers of alamodes, renforcé, and lute strings, on 14 March 1692 [Coll. Arms Grants 4/112]. The arms are seen right, with the blazon being:
Arms: Argent on a Cheveron Azure between two Butterflies countervolant in Chief Sable and a Mulbery Tree proper on a Mount in base Vert both charged with several Silkworms Or, three Cocoons or Silkworms Eggs of the last.
Crest: A Justice proper Crined Or, about the head a Glory, in the Right hand a Sword hilt and pomel gold, blade proper, in the left a pair of Scales Or.
A more recent grant was that on 20 January 1975 to the British Airways Board. Arms, crest and a badge were granted by Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms, and supporters by Garter King of Arms. [Coll. Arms Grants 137/62]. The blazon was as follows:
Arms: Argent between a Chief and a Bendlet sinister couped Gules a Gyron issuing from the dexter the point in sinister chief Azure.
Crest: Rising from an Astral Crown Or a Sun irradiated proper.
Supporters: On the dexter a Pegasus Argent crined unguled and winged Or gorged with an Astral Crown Azure and holding in the mouth a Sprig of Olive fructed proper and on the sinister a Lion guardant winged at the shoulders Or gorged with an Astral Crown Azure the whole upon a Compartment of a Grassy Mound proper dimidiating Water barry wavy Azure and Argent.
Badge (not illustrated): Within a Chaplet of Oak proper an Astral Crown Or.
On 20 October 1984 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II issued a Royal Licence transferring these arms to British Airways p.l.c and on 15 November 1984 the Earl Marshal issued a warrant ordering the Kings of Arms to exemplify the arms [Coll. Arms I.84/194]. On 18 December 1985 the three Kings of Arms issued Letters Patent exemplifying the arms in favour of British Airways p.l.c [Coll. Arms Grants 149/30].
Bluemantle Pursuivant
16 April 2024By Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 16 April 2024, His Majesty The King has been pleased to appoint James van Someren Peill to the office of Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms, vacant by the recent promotion of Mark John Rosborough Scott, now Somerset Herald of Arms. The appointment has been gazetted here.
James Peill, F.S.A. was brought up in the Welsh Marches and read History of Art at Edinburgh University. He was formerly the Curator of the Goodwood Collection. Prior to that, he was a Director of Christie's where he was a specialist in the Furniture Department and an auctioneer. He is the co-author, with the late Knight of Glin, of Irish Furniture (Yale University Press, 2007) and The Irish Country House (Vendome, 2010), and the author of The English Country House (Vendome, 2013). His most recent book is Glorious Goodwood, a Biography of England's Greatest Sporting Estate (Constable, 2019).
Somerset Herald
10 April 2024By Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 12 April 2024, His Majesty The King has been pleased to appoint Mark John Rosborough Scott to the Office of Somerset Herald of Arms, vacant by the promotion in 2021 of David Vines White, now Garter King of Arms. The appointment has been gazetted here.
Hage Geingob: flag instructions
04 February 2024Following the death of Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, 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, Sunday 4th February 2024, until 20.00hrs on Monday 5th February.
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.
Presentations of Grants by Queen Elizabeth II
During the reign of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on several occasions The Queen personally presented grants of arms.
At Melbourne Town Hall on 6 April 1970, The Queen presented to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne the Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 18 March 1970, which altered the city’s arms and crest, granted it supporters and a badge, and exemplified a standard [College reference: Grants 132/319]. The blazons were as follows:
Arms: Argent on a Cross cotised Gules between in the first Quarter a Fleece proper banded Azure ringed Gules in the second Quarter on a Mount a Black Bull statant in the third Quarter on Waves of the Sea a Whale naiant spouting and in the fourth Quarter on Waves of the Sea a three masted Ship in full sail a representation of the Royal Crown all also proper.
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours Out of a Mural Crown Or a demi Kangaroo to the sinister regardant proper.
Supporters: On either side a Lion rampant Or crowned with a Mural Crown Sable and gorged with a Collar Gules charged with two Mullets Argent attached thereto a Chain reflexed over the back also Gules.
Badge: A Fountain charged with a Cross Moline throughout and ensigned by a length of Wall with three crenels Or.
The Letters Patent may be seen here.
At the University of Virginia on 10 July 1976, as part of her visit to celebrate the bi-centenary of the United States of America, The Queen presented the Governor of Virginia the Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 3 June 1976 which devised arms, crest and supporters for the Commonwealth of Virginia [College reference: Foreign Arms 2/119]. The blazons were as follows:
Arms: Argent a Cross Gules between four Escutcheons each ensigned with a Royal Crown those in the first and fourth quarters emblazoned with the Arms of France (modern) quartering those of England the Escutcheon in the second quarter with the Arms of Scotland and that in the third quarter with the Arms of Ireland.
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a Female Figure couped below the shoulders proper crined Or vested Gules garnished Gold on her head an Eastern Crown of the last.
Supporters: On either side a Man in Armour (circa 1620) with Sword sheathed proper garnished Or his breast plate Argent charged with a Cross Gules his helmet with beaver raised and adorned with three Ostrich Feathers Argent supporting with his exterior hand a Spear proper tipped Argent.
Because the design included the royal crown and quarterings of the royal arms, The Queen had to approve the design before the devisal could be made. The design was one used by the Virginia Merchants and Colony of Virginia from around 1620 until 1776.
On 9 March 1977, as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations, The Queen granted supporters to Queensland at a ceremony at the Cloudland Ballroom, Brisbane, with York Herald in attendance, the text of the grant stating that it was ‘Given at Our Court at Brisbane, Queensland’ [College reference: I.84/2]. The supporters granted were On the dexter side a Red Deer and on the sinister side a Brolga wings elevated and addorsed both proper.
On 15 October 1987, The Queen granted a crest (on a sovereign’s helm), supporters, and a compartment to British Columbia at a ceremony at the Law Courts, Vancouver, with York Herald in attendance, the text of the grant stating that it was ‘Given at Our Court at Vancouver’, and the warrant being counter-signed by the Secretary of State of Canada, who was also present [College reference: I.84/265]. The blazons were as follows:
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Gules the Royal Crest proper of General purpose of Our Royal Predecessor Queen Victoria differenced for Us and Our Successors in right of British Columbia with the Lion thereof garlanded about the neck with the Provincial Flower that is to say the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) with leaves all proper Mantled Gules doubled Argent.
Supporters: On the dexter side a Wapiti Stag (Cervus canadensis) proper and on the sinister side a Bighorn Sheep Ram (Ovis canadensis).
Compartment: Beneath the Shield a Scroll entwined with Pacific Dogwood flowers slipped and leaved proper inscribed with the Motto assigned by the said Warrant of Our Royal Predecessor King Edward VII that is to say SPLENDOR SINE OCCASU
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: flag instructions
16 December 2023Following the death of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, 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, Saturday 16 December, until 20.00hrs on Sunday 17th December.
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.
Record Manuscripts of the Tudor Visitations: The College of Arms has published an important new volume, which provides a detailed catalogue and index to this key series of official record manuscripts, created by the heralds in the sixteenth century and preserved at the College ever since. The visitation manuscripts are one of the main classes of record, and have long been recognised as of vital significance for genealogical, heraldic and other areas of historical research. The volumes preserve records of periodic surveys of the arms and pedigrees of the gentry of England and Wales, carried out by the heralds between 1530 and the end of the seventeenth century.
There are thirty-two colour plates illustrating the types of manuscript and the principal hands occurring, and comprehensive indexes of family and personal names, places and subjects. The compiler of the Catalogue is Robert Yorke FSA, Archivist of the College of Arms between 1978 and 2011. The volume was launched with a reception at the College of Arms on 19 October.
For more information see here. Copies can be ordered by emailing the College This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
New Appointments
03 November 2023By Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 6 November 2023, His Majesty The King has been pleased to appoint Phillip Alan Bone to the Office of Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms, vacant by the promotion of Adam Simon Tuck, now Lancaster Herald of Arms. The appointment has been gazetted here.
Phillip Bone was born in Bedfordshire and educated at Bedford School and at Exeter College, Oxford, where he read Literae Humaniores and subsequently received the degrees of Master of Studies and Doctor of Philosophy in Classical Languages and Literature. He subsequently lectured in Ancient Greek Language and Literature at the University of Nottingham.
By Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 2 November 2023, His Majesty The King has been pleased to appoint Adam Simon Tuck to the Office of Lancaster Herald of Arms, vacant by the promotion in 2021 of Robert John Baptist Noel, now Norroy and Ulster King of Arms. The appointment has been gazetted here.
Record Manuscripts of the Tudor Visitations
24 October 2023A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms: Records Volume 1
The College of Arms is delighted to announce the publication of an important new volume, which provides a detailed catalogue and index to this key series of official record manuscripts, created by the heralds in the sixteenth century and preserved at the College ever since.
The visitation manuscripts are one of the main classes of record, and have long been recognised as of vital significance for genealogical, heraldic and other areas of historical research. The volumes preserve records of periodic surveys of the arms and pedigrees of the gentry of England and Wales, carried out by the heralds between 1530 and the end of the seventeenth century.
The first part of this substantial 805-page volume catalogues the College’s Tudor visitation manuscripts in detail, describing their content, relation to each other and to other manuscripts, and also their physical make-up. The Tudor manuscripts are much more heterogenous than the Stuart ones, and include considerable amounts of interesting non-visitation material. All the main family names occurring in the visitations are listed.
The second part of the volume consists of a complete analytical list of all Tudor visitation manuscripts, both in the College and in other repositories, arranged by county and giving the published editions. The general apparatus includes four appendices; one of these is a chronological list of visitations and another a biographical list of heralds and others connected with the visitations. A lengthy introduction discusses all aspects of the manuscripts catalogued and also looks at the process of visitation in the Tudor period. 
There are thirty-two colour plates illustrating the types of manuscript and the principal hands occurring, and comprehensive indexes of family and personal names, places and subjects.
The Author
The compiler of the Catalogue is Robert Yorke FSA, Archivist of the College of Arms between 1978 and 2011.
Price
£60 plus postage and packing
TO ORDER
• by e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• by telephone to: 0207 248 2762
• by post to: Catalogue of Manuscripts, College of Arms, 130 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BT
ISBN 978 0 9506 980 3 8
