Story By: by NPR Staff
Robert Parsons sketches the new Coat of Arms for Kate Middleton’s family at the College of Arms in London. The Middleton Coat of Arms features three acorn sprigs â one for each of the Middletons’ children.
Once they are married, Kate and William will have a new coat of arms that blends elements from their individual coats of arms.
It’s much simpler than Prince William’s, which is the shield of the House of Windsor. That coat of arms has a harp, at least three lions, some fleur de lis and at the bottom, another lion, and then a unicorn.
“That’s what’s known as the supporters, where you have the lion and the unicorn supporting the shield,” Mr. Woodcock says.
And here’s the important part: Once Kate and William are married and she becomes a princess, their shields merge.
Then they will get a new shield, with all of his stuff on the left and her stuff on the right, and they lose the unicorn.
“So the lion will stay there holding up one side of the shield, and then they will have to think of some animal to replace the unicorn, something relating to her,” Mr. Woodcock explains.
So to recap, the way you get a coat of arms is first, be a subject of the British crown. Then prove your eminence and finally, give Thomas Woodcock a call.
Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag are producers for Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! You can follow more of their adventures on their podcast, How To Do Everything.
Originally Published On: www.npr.org – Original Article Here