- .New Conjungal Coat of Arms will represent the couple forever
- .Is a combination of both the Middleton's and William's
- .Prince George will be christened 23 October at St James's Palace
- .Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced event today
- .Archbishop of Canterbury will perform religious ceremony
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, so the saying goes.
And yesterday the Duchess of Cambridge's personal emblem was joined, for the first time, with that of her husband to create a new 'Conjugal Coat of Arms'.
Designed by the College of Arms in London, the striking image now represents William and Kate, in heraldic terms, as a married couple and has been approved by the Queen.
Kensington Palace released this photo of the new conjugal coat of arms for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Although their ancestors hail from the coalmines of the north east, the Middleton family was first awarded its own coat of arms in April 2011, shortly before the royal wedding.
Indeed, although Kate was entitled to apply for a heraldic design in her own right, it was actually her father, Michael, who entered the petition, meaning the entire family – wife, Carole, and younger children James and Pippa – were also entitled to use it.
And the Middletons were, by all accounts, very much involved in the design.
The three leafy acorns were suggested by Kate to represent herself and her siblings. Acorns were also chosen for the analogy that they grow into great oaks. Oak is a symbol of England and strength, and West Berkshire, where the children were brought up, has many oak trees.
In the centre is an eye-catching gold chevron presenting the Duchess's mother, Carole, at the heart of the family. Her family name was, of course, Goldsmith.
The two thin white chevrons on either side indicate, remarkably, the family's love of skiing and mountains, while the background colours of red and blue were chosen as they are the principle colours of the flag of the United Kingdom and match William's own shield.
The insignia will be the couple's coat of arms forever, but parts of it could change
The technical heraldic description of the Middleton Coat of Arms, known as a 'blazon', is 'Per pale Azure and Gules a Chevron Or cotised Argent between three Acorns slipped and leaved Or'.
Translated this means the shield is divided vertically (Per Pale) with one half blue (Azure) and the other half red (Gules).
Translated this means the shield is divided vertically (Per Pale) with one half blue (Azure) and the other half red (Gules).
A Chevron Or means the gold chevron across the centre of the shield, and there are 'cotises' either side of the chevron in white (Argent).
Slipped means 'with a stalk', referring to the distinguishing feature of the shield, its acorns with gold stalks and leaves
At the time Kate's coat of arms was presented in the form of a 'lozenge' with a distinctive scalloped edge and was hung from a blue ribbon to denote that she was a spinster.
Now the couple are married, Kate's Coat of Arms is of a traditional shield shape and stands alongside that of her husband.
William's shield, on the left, is a version of the Royal Coat of Arms granted to him by the Queen on his 18th birthday.
The Duchess of Cambridge's shield is surrounded by a wreath of oak, to balance out her husband's garter
It shows the various royal emblems of the United Kingdom: the three lions of England, the lion of Scotland and the harp of Ireland.
It is surrounded by a blue garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense - Shame to those who think evil of it - which symbolises the Order of the Garter – the Queen's highest order of chivalry - of which he is a Knight Companion.
For aesthetic reasons, his wife's shield is surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves to balance out William's garter - a tradition for royal spouses who are not themselves entitled to surround their arms with an order of chivalry.
Similarly the red ribbon at the bottom of Kate's shield is simply there to complement the tongue of William's blue garter.
Both shields are supported by the Duke of Cambridge's 'supporters' – a royal lion and unicorn, each wearing a three pointed collar, known as a label.
The label has a red escallop shell derived from the Spencer coat of arms, which has been used by William's ancestors on his mother's side for many centuries.
Garter Principal King of Arms and Senior Herald in England, Thomas Woodcock unveils the new Coat of Arms for Kate Middleton's family in 2011
On top of the shields is the coronet of rank appropriate to the Duke of Cambridge and a helmet, known as a 'helm', upon which all royal crests must sit.
William's personal crest is a gold lion stantant guardian (standing and facing forward) with, once again, the label featuring the Spencer escallop around its neck.
Flowing out from the top of the Conjugal Coat of Arms is what is known as mantling, which is carried on all full representations of arms, and is a stylised representation of the slashed cloth said to be hung around the neck of all knights fighting in the heat of the Middle East during the Crusades.
The College's Chester Herald, Timothy Duke, explained to the Mail yesterday: 'Any married couple who are both entitled to arms are entitled to combine them in a Conjugal Coat of Arms.
'There are different rules and conventions as to how this works, depending on who the individual is, but as the Duke of Cambridge is a Knight of the Order of the Garter his is encircled by the blue garter bearing its motto. As his wife is not, a wreath was made to balance hers out decoratively. Obviously that will change if she in, in the future, made a member herself.
'Heraldry is a symbol of family identity handed down for generations with huge significance, even today. For the Royal Family is very much part of their public image.'
A spokesman for Kensington Palace added: 'The Conjugal Arms will be the couple's coat of arms forever, but parts of it could change as their own circumstances and roles change.
'It was approved by the Queen earlier this year and can now be shown publicly for the first time.
'Their Royal Highnesses will also retain their own Coats of Arms to represent themselves as individuals.'
'Their Royal Highnesses will also retain their own Coats of Arms to represent themselves as individuals.'
Apparently the Queen or the Prince of Wales – palace officials wouldn't disclose who – paid for the new coat of arms.
In theory, anyone can apply for one but if the heralds think the applicant is inappropriate, they can recommend they withdraw.
Kate's family are able to use their Coat of Arms for business purposes should they wish, by all accounts. The College of Arms have seen it embossed on everything from crockery to furniture and even watering cans in the past.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that the christening of their son Prince George will take place on 23rd October.
The Prince will be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby in the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.
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