Read the information about British emblem and describe it.

The Royal¹ Coat of Arms² carries the symbols representing England, Scotland and Ireland, the Sovereign's motto³ and the lion and the unicorn⁴.

On the left, the shield⁵ is supported by the English Lion. On the right it is supported by theUnicorn of Scotland. (The unicorn is chained⁶ because in mediaeval times a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast⁷).

The Royal Arms⁸ we see today have evolved⁹ over nine centuries, since Richard the Lionheart chose three lions to represent England. This symbol on the King's shield would immediately identify him in the midst¹⁰ of battle.

The full version of the Royal Coat of Arms is now used only by the Queen in her capacity¹¹ as the Sovereign. In the version used by the government and consequently as the official coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the crown is shown resting directly on the shield, with the helm¹², crest¹³ and mantling¹⁴ not displayed (like in the black and white picture above).

In the coloured photograph you see that the unicorn horn¹⁵ is missing (it may have fallen off).

The main element of the Arms is the shield which is divided into four quarters.

¹ royal [′rÉı(ə)l] – королевский, монарший

² Coat of Arms [′kəυt əv ′a:mz] - герб

³ motto [′mÉtəυ] – девиз, лозунг

⁴ unicorn [′ju:nıkÉ:n] - единорог

⁵ shield [∫i:ld] - щит

⁶ chain [t∫eın] – приковывать цепью

⁷ beast [bi:st] зверь, животное

⁸ arms [′a:mz] - герб

⁹ evolve [ı′vÉlv] – развивать(ся)

¹⁰ midst [mıdst] - середина

¹¹ capacity [kə′pæsıtı] – роль, положение, должность

¹² helm [helm] - шлем

¹³ crest [krest] – гребень шлема, украшение наверху гербового щита

¹⁴ mantling [′mæntlıŋ] – мантия на гербе

¹⁵ horn [hÉ:n] – рог

Shield of the Royal Arms

The first and fourth quadrants¹ represent England and contain three gold lions passant² on a red field; the second quadrant represents Scotland contains a red lion rampant³ on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold harp⁴ of Ireland on a blue field.

Why is Wales not represented on the shield and Coat of Arms?

Wales was recognized as a Principality by the creation of the Prince of Wales long before the incorporation⁵ of the quarterings for Scotland and Ireland in the Royal Arms. The arms of the Prince of Wales show the arms of the ancient Principality in the centre as well as these quarterings.

¹ quadrant [′kwÉdr(ə)nt] – квадрант; четверть круга, шара

² passant lion [′pæsənt ′laıən] – лев, идущий с поднятой правой лапой и смотрящий на зрителя

³ rampant [′ræmpənt] – стоящий на задних лапах

⁴ harp [ha:p] - арфа

⁵ incorporation [ın‚kÉ:pə′reı∫n] – объединение, слияние

What is the motto of England?

The motto of England and the Sovereign is

"Dieu et mon Droit"
(French for ‘God and my right’).

The motto was first used by King Richard I in 1198 and adopted as the royal motto of England in the time of Henry VI.

The motto appears below the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms.

I. Read and memorize the following words: