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Royal wedding: Kate Middleton coat of arms unveiled | Royal wedding: Kate Middleton coat of arms unveiled |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Kate Middleton's family has had a coat of arms designed, which will feature on a souvenir royal wedding programme. | 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. |
It features three acorn sprigs, one for each of the Middletons' children: an idea Miss Middleton suggested. | It features three acorn sprigs, one for each of the Middletons' children: an idea Miss Middleton 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. | |
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." | "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." |
Multimedia nuptials | Multimedia nuptials |
Broadcast footage of the wedding will be streamed live on the royal YouTube channel, accompanied by a live blog put together by staff at Clarence House and St James's Palace. | Broadcast footage of the wedding will be streamed live on the royal YouTube channel, accompanied by a live blog put together by staff at Clarence House and St James's Palace. |
The commentary will provide historical information and links to previously unpublished photographs and video footage with live updates on social media sites such as facebook and twitter. | The commentary will provide historical information and links to previously unpublished photographs and video footage with live updates on social media sites such as facebook and twitter. |
This will be the first royal wedding with its own twitter hashtag: #rw2011. | This will be the first royal wedding with its own twitter hashtag: #rw2011. |
Members of the public have been invited to send their good wishes in the form of a video message to be shown in an online digital wedding book. | Members of the public have been invited to send their good wishes in the form of a video message to be shown in an online digital wedding book. |
150,000 copies of the official souvenir programme booklet will go on sale on the day of the wedding. | 150,000 copies of the official souvenir programme booklet will go on sale on the day of the wedding. |
The booklet will be handed out along the processional route by a team of military cadets and Explorer Scouts. | The booklet will be handed out along the processional route by a team of military cadets and Explorer Scouts. |
The cost will be £2, with proceeds to go to the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. | The cost will be £2, with proceeds to go to the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. |
But it will also be available to download for free the day before the wedding from the official Royal Wedding website. | But it will also be available to download for free the day before the wedding from the official Royal Wedding website. |