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| Royal wedding: Kate Middleton coat of arms unveiled | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Kate Middleton's family has had a coat of arms designed, which will feature on a souvenir royal wedding programme. | |
| Her father Michael commissioned the heraldic design to mark his daughter's marriage to Prince William on 29 April. | Her father Michael commissioned the heraldic design to mark his daughter's marriage to Prince William on 29 April. |
| The design features three acorn sprigs - one for each of the Middletons' children - an idea she suggested. | The design features three acorn sprigs - one for each of the Middletons' children - an idea she suggested. |
| Royal experts say the coat of arms - which cost £4,400 to make - marks the increased social status of her parents and her potential as a future Queen. | Royal experts say the coat of arms - which cost £4,400 to make - marks the increased social status of her parents and her potential as a future Queen. |
| Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms, from the College of Arms in the City of London, helped the Middletons with the design. | Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms, from the College of Arms in the City of London, helped the Middletons with the design. |
| He said the oak tree was a traditional symbol of England and a feature of west Berkshire, where the family have lived for 30 years. | He said the oak tree was a traditional symbol of England and a feature of west Berkshire, where the family have lived for 30 years. |
| Mr Woodcock said the gold chevron in the centre of the coat of arms signified Miss Middleton's mother, Carole, whose maiden name was Goldsmith. | Mr Woodcock said the gold chevron in the centre of the coat of arms signified Miss Middleton's mother, Carole, whose maiden name was Goldsmith. |
| White chevronels - narrow chevrons above and below the gold chevron - symbolise peaks and mountains, and the Middleton family's love of the Lake District and skiing. | White chevronels - narrow chevrons above and below the gold chevron - symbolise peaks and mountains, and the Middleton family's love of the Lake District and skiing. |
| Mr Woodcock said: "It's not compulsory, but as their daughter is marrying into the Royal Family she will have a need probably to use a coat of arms." | Mr Woodcock said: "It's not compulsory, but as their daughter is marrying into the Royal Family she will have a need probably to use a coat of arms." |
| He said Miss Middleton could have been granted her own heraldic design but her father wanted the whole family to be able to use it. | He said Miss Middleton could have been granted her own heraldic design but her father wanted the whole family to be able to use it. |
| Elaborate lozenge | Elaborate lozenge |
| A version of the coat of arms, which can only be used by Kate or her sister Pippa as it denotes a Middleton spinster, will be printed on the back of the souvenir programme. Prince William's will be on the front. | A version of the coat of arms, which can only be used by Kate or her sister Pippa as it denotes a Middleton spinster, will be printed on the back of the souvenir programme. Prince William's will be on the front. |
| Miss Middleton's heraldic design features a tied ribbon to show she is an unmarried woman. | Miss Middleton's heraldic design features a tied ribbon to show she is an unmarried woman. |
| Overall, it is designed like an elaborate lozenge rather than a shield, a shape reserved for men. | Overall, it is designed like an elaborate lozenge rather than a shield, a shape reserved for men. |
| She will be able to use the coat of arms up until her wedding day, after which it will be combined with that of Prince William. | She will be able to use the coat of arms up until her wedding day, after which it will be combined with that of Prince William. |
| Mr Woodcock said: "With any new design of a coat of arms you have to make sure that the design is distinct not just in colour but in the linear appearance. | Mr Woodcock said: "With any new design of a coat of arms you have to make sure that the design is distinct not just in colour but in the linear appearance. |
| "And, as there is a 16th Century coat of arms with a chevron between three sprigs of oak, we've made the differences - dividing the background colours." |