# Tudor Crown (heraldry)

The Tudor Crown is a widely used symbol in the heraldry of the United Kingdom. In use officially from 1902 to 1953 and again from 2022, it is used to represent "the Crown" as the sovereign source of governmental authority. As such, it appears on numerous official emblems in the United Kingdom, British Empire, and the Commonwealth. Use of the crown for commercial purposes is restricted in the UK (and in countries which are party to the Paris Convention) under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and its use is governed by the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

## History

The heraldic depictions of the royal crown have undergone many changes in their form and enrichment. The crown began to assume its present form in the reign of Henry V. Henry V's crown consisted of a jewelled circlet heightened by four crosses pattée alternating with eight fleurs-de-lis in pairs, and two arches springing from behind the crosses and supporting at the top a mound and cross (similar to an orb). In some reigns, additional arches were used, and the number of crosses pattée and fleurs-de-lis was varied. By the reign of Charles I the royal crown was depicted similarly to the Tudor crown (made either for Henry VII or Henry VIII) which had four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, and also four arches rising almost to a point, the arches being studded with pearls. This crown was destroyed during the Protectorate.
After the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II based the heraldic crown on the new St Edward's Crown of 1661, which had four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, the number of arches was reduced to two and the curvature of the arches being depressed at the point of intersection. On this pattern the royal crown was depicted until the reign of Queen Victoria. Although Fox-Davies states that the St Edward's Crown is supposed to be heraldically represented over the Royal Arms or other insignia because "it is the 'official' crown of England", various other crowns were depicted under Victoria. Early depictions of the Royal Arms during her reign featured the Imperial State Crown which was created for Victoria's coronation in 1838 and was similar to the St Edward's Crown but with a flatter top. However, depictions varied depending on the artist.
In 1876, Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, and in 1880, the heraldic crown was altered to give it a more imperial form by making the arches semi-circular. However, Victoria had favoured a Tudor style crown since at least the 1860s. Victoria had featured in William Wyon's gothic crown coin in 1847, and the Palace of Westminster, rebuilt from 1840–1876, makes extensive use of a gothic style crown. The British had assumed direct rule over India in 1858 and the Order of the Star of India, created in 1861, depicted a Tudor Crown from its inception. Victoria had a new crown made in 1870 which resembled the Tudor Crown, declining to wear the Imperial State Crown which she found heavy and uncomfortable.
After the accession of Edward VII, the War Office raised the issue of a standardised design of the crown for use by the army, "there being in use at present some half a dozen crowns of different patterns". In 1902, the king decided on a single Tudor Crown design based on the crown of Henry VII, as "chosen and always used by Queen Victoria personally".
George VI had ceased to use the style 'Emperor of India' on India's independence in 1947, and on the accession of Elizabeth II in 1952, she opted to change from the Tudor Crown back to the St Edward's Crown design. Charles III adopted the Tudor Crown on his accession in 2022, similar to that last used under George VI but with a plain circlet and with larger jewels, cross and ermine. In addition to being larger, the jewels are also of different shapes to the 1902 pattern: the central sapphire and the outer rubies are of a rhombus shape rather than oblong.
The jewels shown on the circlet are usually a sapphire in the centre between two emeralds, and two rubies on the outside. However, early versions sometimes have a ruby in the centre and sapphires on the outside, and have a green mound with gold bands rather than a solid gold mound. The cap of the heraldic crown is always represented as crimson regardless of the colour of any actual crowns.

## Gallery
### Coats of arms

* Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022–present)
* Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom as used by HM Government (2022–present)
* Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901–1952)
* Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom as used by HM Government (1901–1952)
* Coat of arms of Queen Alexandra, consort of Edward VII
* Coat of arms of Queen Mary, consort of George V
* Coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI
* Coat of arms of Queen Camilla, consort of Charles III
* Seal of Annapolis
* Coat of arms of Australia (1912–1953)
* Coat of arms of Queen's University Belfast
* Royal arms of Canada (1921–1957)
* Crest of Royal College Colombo (pre–1954)
* Coat of arms of the University of Dublin
* Badge of Royal Netherlands Air Force 322 Squadron
* Coat of arms of Northern Ireland (1924–1972)
* Coat of arms of the Orange River Colony (1904–1910) and the Orange Free State (1910–1925)
* Coat of arms of Quebec
* Coat of arms of Queensland (1902–1953)
* Coat of arms of Singapore (1948–1959)
* Coat of arms of British Somaliland (1950–1953)
* Coat of arms of the Straits Settlements (1901–1946)
* Coat of arms of Victoria (1910–1953)
* Badge of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands (1903–1953)

### Cyphers

* Royal cypher of King Edward VII
* Royal cypher of King George V
* Royal cypher of King Edward VIII
* Royal cypher of King George VI
* Royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI
* Design element of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's 90th birthday commemorative coin, 1990
* Royal cypher of King Charles III
* Dual cypher of Charles III and Queen Camilla

### Flags

* Flag of Annapolis
* Coronation Standard of Australia (1937 and 1953)
* Flag of the governor-general of Australia (1902–1908)
* Flag of the governor-general of Australia (1908–1936)
* Flag of the governor-general of Australia (1936–1953)
* Flag of The Bahamas (1904–1923)
* Flag of The Bahamas (1923–1953)
* Flag of the governor of The Bahamas (1904–1953)
* Ceremonial flag used at the British Empire Games (1930–1950)
* Ceremonial flag used at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954–1966)
* Flag of the governor general of Canada (1901–1921)
* Flag of the governor general of Canada (1921–1931)
* Flag of the governor general of Canada (1931–1953)
* Flag of the governor-general of Ceylon (1948–1953)
* Flag of the Colony of Fiji (1903–1908)
* Flag of the governor of Fiji (1903–1908)
* Coronation Standard of India (1911 and 1937)
* Flag of the governor-general of India (1901–1947)
* Flag of the governor-general of India (1947–1950)
* Flag of the British Indian Army (1942–1947)
* Flag of Llandovery
* Flag of the Colony of Natal (1901–1910)
* Flag of the British New Hebrides (1906–1953)
* Flag of the Resident Commissioner of the British New Hebrides (1906–1953)
* Flag of the governor-general of New Zealand (1936–1953)
* Flag of Colonial Nigeria (1914–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Nigeria (1914–1953)
* Flag of Northern Ireland (1924–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Northern Ireland (1924–1973)
* Flag of the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia
* Flag of the governor-general of Pakistan (1947–1953)
* Flag of the lieutenant governor of Quebec
* Flag of Queensland (1901–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Queensland (1901–1953)
* Flag of the Crown Colony of Singapore (1946–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Singapore (1946–1953)
* Flag of the British Solomon Islands (1906–1947)
* Flag of British Somaliland (1950–1953)
* Flag of the governor of British Somaliland (1950–1953)
* Flag of the governor-general of South Africa (1931–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1951–1953)
* Household flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1940–1952)
* Flag of the Straits Settlements (1904–1925)
* Flag of the Straits Settlements (1925–1946)
* Flag of the governor of the Straits Settlements (1904–1946)
* Flag of Victoria (1901–1953)
* Flag of the governor of Victoria (1901–1953)
* Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903–1953)
* Flag of the Governor-in-Chief of the British Windward Islands (1903–1953)
* King's Colour for the Royal Navy (1925–1936)
* King's Colour for the Royal Navy (1936–1952)
* King's Colour for the Royal Navy (2023–present)
* Ensign of the Royal Irish Yacht Club
* Ensign of the Royal St. George Yacht Club
* Ensign of the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club (pre–1953)
* Flag of the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (1972–1978)

### Others

* "Keep Calm and Carry On" wartime poster
* Red telephone boxes
* Post box
* Scottish police cap badge (worn until 1975)
* Reverse of a 1953 half crown
* Crown (Australian coin) 1937, 1938
* A British passport from 1945, with the Royal Arms