In the United Kingdom, when a monarch accedes to the throne, they can introduce changes to the symbols used to represent them as an individual, which include the Royal Cypher, the particular artistic rendering of the Royal Arms and the designs used on coins.
But what are the Royal Arms, why were they created and where are they used? Here, we explore them in more detail.
Why did Coats of Arms Appear?
Around the twelfth century, the introduction of Coats of Arms representing individuals through colours and symbols provided knights with crucial tools that allowed them to quickly identify friend from foe.
The Royal Arms
The first known iteration of the English Royal Arms was in the twelfth century. Richard I chose a red background for his Coat of Arms, which featured three lions walking along looking out at the viewer, or three lions ‘passant guardant’.
In the centuries since, the Royal Arms have changed several times to feature various different elements representing the reigning monarch, including fleurs-de-lis in one of the Shield’s quarters that represented the monarch’s claim to the French throne.
The Royal Arms have not been changed since Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, but the style in which they have been depicted has changed over that time.
Designed by heraldic artist Timothy Noad, the new rendering of the Coat of Arms of His Majesty King Charles III features the Tudor Crown in place of the St Edward’s Crown that appear in Queen Elizabeth II’s Arms. In Scotland, a different version of the Royal Arms is used in which the Royal Arms is used in which the Scottish lion appears in the first and fourth quarters.
How are the Royal Arms Used?
Across the United Kingdom, the Royal Arms Are used in a range of different capacities, with a simplified form used on official government documentation, including UK passports, to show that the government acts in His Majesty The King’s name.
The Arms appear on many public buildings and they appear in courtrooms too, typically behind the judge’s bench, to display how justice is enacted on behalf of the monarch.
The Royal Arms can also be used on products whose vendors or manufacturers have been granted a Royal Warrant.
A Symbol for the Nation
A symbol for the nation, King Charles III’s Coat of Arms now appears on a new bullion coin range for 2026, available in 1oz Gold and 1oz Silver Editions.
