Kate Middleton and Prince William Quietly Debut New Coat of Arms 3 Years After Becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales

Kate Middleton and Prince William quietly shared a royal symbol that reflects their prestigious status as the Prince and Princess of Wales.

On Nov. 19, the Prince and Princess of Wales had a glamorous date night at the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall in London, and the event brochure revealed something new: the couple’s shields from their Conjugal Coat of Arms within the Prince of Wales Coat of Arms.

The heraldic emblem was spotted in a dedication from the Royal Variety Charity to Prince William and Princess Kate, both 43, welcoming them and thanking them for attending. The Royal Variety Performance is the Royal Variety Charity’s signature fundraiser and an event the royal family has supported for over 100 years.

William and Kate first received their Conjugal Coat of Arms, which represents them in heraldic terms as a married couple, in 2013, and the latest iteration reflects their royal status now.

The regal emblem shows William’s badge on the left and Kate’s badge on the right, flanked by the Supporters of the Royal Lion and Unicorn, and the new elements are all about William’s position as the Prince of Wales.

The Conjugal Coat of Arms shown in the brochure features the Prince of Wales’ feathers, a symbol affiliated with the position since the 14th century, a coronet of the Prince and Peers and the Prince of Wales’ official motto Ich Dien, which is German for “I serve.” The ornamental emblem is topped by another coronet-wearing lion, with feathers around.

King Charles named Prince William as the Prince of Wales in his first speech as sovereign following his accession to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022.

The Prince of Wales has been the traditional title for the male heir to the throne since around 1301, and William’s wife Kate became the Princess of Wales in the same sweep, taking on the title her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, was popularly known by during her marriage to Charles.

While William and Kate have been the Prince and Princess of Wales for over three years, their revised emblem was not widely seen until it surfaced in the Royal Variety Performance program, serving as a surprise from the night.

It came as an update to the Conjugal Coat of Arms that was unveiled in September 2013, two years after they wed in April 2011.

That coat of arms, designed by the College of Arms in London and approved by the Queen, united William and Kate’s separate shields in one design as husband and wife.

William received his shield when he turned 18, and the illustration features royal emblems representing different parts of the U.K.: the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third.

It is surrounded by a blue garter with the motto “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (“Shame to those who think evil of it”), symbolizing the Order of the Garter, of which he is a Knight Companion. Another key detail is the fact that the Royal Lion and Unicorn each wear a three-pointed collar with a red scallop shell inspired by the Spencer Coat of Arms that has been used by Princess Diana’s family for centuries.

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Kate’s shield is a newer creation and was made from the Middleton Coat of Arms granted to her father, Michael Middleton, ahead of her royal wedding to William in 2011.

The badge shows three sprigs of oak, illustrated as acorns with leaves, in a reference to Michael and Carole Middleton’s three children (Kate, Pippa and James), and the area where she grew up, “which is surrounded by oak trees,” the College of Arms said.

The gold chevron across is a tribute to Carole’s maiden name of Goldsmith and the white chevrons above and below it pay homage to mountains and the Lake District, a meaningful place for the family.

The initial announcement about William and Kate’s Conjugal Coat of Arms explained that the heraldic emblem would always belong to them, but may evolve over time with their royal roles.

“The Conjugal Arms will be theirs forever, however as their circumstances and roles alter, elements of the accoutrements around the shields may change,” a statement said.