Prince EdwardandSophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh’s conjugal coat of arms has been spied online shortly after a royal crest onMeghan MarkleandPrince Harry’s new website caused a commotion.
On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s joint coat of arms was spotted in the Linking Environment and Farming Education (LEAF) 2023 Impacts Report shared onX. Sophie, 59, is the honorary president of the organization that supports sustainable food and farming and penned a message about LEAF’s work over the last year.
Sophie and Edward’s coat of arms featuring two shields under a coronet was stamped on stationery markedBagshot Park, the royal residence near Windsor Castle where the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh live with their two children,Lady Louise Windsor, 20, andJames, Earl of Wessex, 16. A close look at the conjugal coat of arms, which represents Prince Edward and Sophie in heraldic terms as a married couple, shows Edward’s shield on the left and Sophie’s on the left. According toHello!magazine, Prince Edward received his individual coat of arms at age 19, while the Rhys-Jones coat of arms was made for Sophie’s father,Christopher Rhys-Jones, ahead of his daughter’sroyal weddingin 1999.
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The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms to create the design, which included a number of personal elements. The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine in Meghan’s hometown of Los Angeles. The three quills represent communication and the power of words, a possible reflection ofMeghan’s outspoken activismand herdefunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.
However, royal watchers were quick to spot that the crest needs an update followingKing Charles' accession to the throne in 2022. Now that Prince Harry is the son of the monarch rather than the son of the heir, a different coronet should be used while the five points of the lapel should be changed to three points, according toGert’s Royals.
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On the bottom right of the homepage, the couple’s titles appear under theirjoint cypher. The design features an intertwined “H” and “M” in the same cursive style as both Harry and Meghan’s individual cyphers. Sitting atop the initials is a coronet, which features two crosses pattee (a type of Christian cross), four fleurs-de-lys and two strawberry leaves.
“We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They’re still here,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite constantly being challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.”
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source: people.com
