The coat of arms of King's College London in

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, are

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vi ...

ed: ''on a Pale Azure between two Lions rampant respectant Gules an Anchor Gold ensigned by a Royal Crown proper on a Chief Argent an Ancient Lamp proper inflamed Gold between two Blazing Hearths also proper.'' The current coat of arms was developed after the mergers of the college with Queen Elizabeth College and

Chelsea College of Science and Technology Chelsea College of Science and Technology was established as a College of Advanced Technology on a single site on the corner of Manresa Road and King's Road, Chelsea, London SW3, as part of the University of London in 1966 and was granted ...

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

in 1985. The Rampant Lions are from Chelsea College's crest and the Blazing Hearths are from Queen Elizabeth College's. The arms incorporates aspects of the heraldry of the two colleges. A warrant for the use of the current arms was granted by the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...

, and the right to use the Royal Crown in the

armorial achievement In heraldry, an achievement, armorial achievement or heraldic achievement (historical: hatchment) is a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a coat of arms is entitled. An achievement comprises not onl ...

was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995. File:Coat of Arms of King’s College London (1829-1985).png, Arms of King's College from 1829 to 1985 File:King's Coat of Arms 1911.png, Arms of King's College, used sometime in 1911 File:Queen_Elizabeth_College_coat_of_arms.jpg, Arms of Queen Elizabeth College, merged into King's c1985 File:Chelsea_College_University_of_London.png, Arms of Chelsea College, merged into King's c1985

Original coat of arms

The original coat of arms used from 1829 to 1985 is that of

George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...

, who was the King at the time of foundation of the college. The shield depicts the royal coat of arms together with an

inescutcheon In heraldry, an escutcheon () is a shield that forms the main or focal element in an achievement of arms. The word can be used in two related senses. In the first sense, an escutcheon is the shield upon which a coat of arms is displayed. In the s ...

of the

House of Hanover The House of Hanover (german: Haus Hannover), whose members are known as Hanoverians, is a European royal house of German origin that ruled Hanover, Great Britain, and Ireland at various times during the 17th to 20th centuries. The house or ...

, while the supporters embody the college motto of ' ("With Holiness and Wisdom"). The original arms is displayed on the

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...

of King's College London. The crest and supporters are blazoned: ''On a Helm with a Wreath Or and Azure Upon a Book proper rising from a Coronet Or the rim set with jewels two Azure (one manifest) four Vert (two manifest) and two Gules a demi Lion Gules holding a Rod of Dexter a female figure habited Azure the cloak lined coif and sleeves Argent holding in the exterior hand a Lond Cross botony Gold and sinister a male figure the Long Coat Azure trimmed with Sable proper shirt Argent holding in the interior hand a Book proper.'' There is no surviving correspondence in the King's College London Archives and at the

regarding the choice of the original coat of arms. A wide variety of unofficial adaptations have been used during the college history. The original arms can still be seen at the entrance to the 19th century King's Building at the

Strand Campus The Strand Campus is the founding campus of King's College London and is located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, sharing its frontage along the River Thames. The original campus comprises the Grade I listed King's Building of 1831 ...

. The King's College London coat of arms is only used on formal documents, including examination certificates, formal invitations and graduation materials, and it acts as a legitimising device on official legal titles and documents.

References

{{Academic heraldry King's College London King's College London King's College London King's College London King's College London King's College London

Original coat of arms

See also

References