News & Grants - College of Arms
THE SOCIETY OF ST STEPHEN’S HOUSE: A grant of Arms, Crest and Badge was made by Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 2 November 2020. The Letters Patent recite briefly this institution's history, founded in Oxford in 1876, and now a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford. The blazon is as follows:
Arms: Per chevron Gules and Sable in chief two Cross Crosslets and in base a Celestial Crown Or.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Or and Gules An Eagle rising wings displayed and inverted Or supporting with the dexter wing a Candlestick Gules therein a candle Argent enflamed proper.
Badge: A Cross crosslet Or surmounted by a Closed Book Gules leaved Argent and charged with a Key wards upwards Or.
College of Arms Ms Vincent 444: Nicholas Upton (died 1457) wrote a highly-regarded treatise on heraldry, knighthood and the art of war known as Libellus de Officio Militari. A copy of this, known as the Baddesworth version, was compiled in 1458. This College of Arms manuscript consists of a fine copy of the Baddesworth version, created by Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, in 1572. It subsequently belonged to Augustine Vincent, Windsor Herald (died 1626), and came with many other manuscripts collected and created by him, to the College of Arms, courtesy of a bequest by Ralph Sheldon of Beoley in Worcestershire.
This opening relates to an idealised account of the ceremony by which a knight was created; with copies of medieval illuminations showing the investiture with a collar, and with spurs. Coll Arm Ms Vincent 444 pp. 170-171.
Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait: Flag Instructions
29 September 2020Learning with regret of the death of His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, special instructions have been received that UK Government Buildings should lower their Union Flags to half-mast from 1800 hours today Tuesday 29 September until 2000 hours on Wednesday 30 September.
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.
80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
14 September 20202020 marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which took place between July and October 1940. 15 September 1940 was named Battle of Britain Day, as it was a day of significant success for Fighter Command.
To mark Battle of Britain Day, a request has been issued for buildings of Her Majesty's Government to fly the Union Flag at full mast on Tuesday 15 September (0800 until 2000 hours).
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.
Due to the current pandemic, we regret that the College of Arms is closed to visits by members of the public. All the work of the College continues. Enquiries may be made by telephone on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on (+44) 207 248 2762, by email addressed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the form on this website here.
There may be a delayed response at this time but all enquires will receive a considered reply in due course.
Future alterations to these arrangements will be published here.
