Royal badges of England facts for kids
In heraldry, which is the study of symbols and coats of arms, the royal badges of England are special symbols used by the kings and queens of the Kingdom of England.
Think of a badge like a unique logo for a person or family. It's similar to a coat of arms or a crest, but it's not part of them. Badges are complete on their own. Unlike a coat of arms, which only the owner can display, badges could be worn by many people, like servants or supporters, to show who they worked for or supported. You could see these badges on flags, personal items, and even on buildings to show who owned them or helped pay for them.
The Story of Royal Badges
Royal badges have been used in England for a very long time, since the first days of English heraldry. They are usually simple designs. Many badges were passed down through families or adopted by new rulers. You can still find them in old royal palaces, chapels, and even in some old houses that were connected to the royal family.
One of the earliest royal badges was a sprig of common broom. This plant was said to be worn by Geoffrey of Anjou on his hat. The broom plant, called Plantegenest in old Latin, became Geoffrey's nickname. This led to the name of the Plantagenet family, who ruled England for over 300 years! The Plantagenet kings often used this broom badge, sometimes adding other personal symbols.
- King Henry II used the broom sprig and a golden star-like jewel.
- King Richard I and his brother King John used a star and crescent moon.
- King Henry III used the broom sprig and the star and crescent.
- His son, Edward I, added a golden rose from his mother.
- King Edward II added a golden castle, which he got from his mother, Eleanor of Castile.
It was actually Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York in the 1400s who made the "Plantagenet" name popular for his family. He used it to show his strong connection to Geoffrey and the previous kings during the Wars of the Roses. This name helped his great-grandson, King Henry VIII of England, feel more legitimate as a ruler later on.
Badges became very common during the reign of King Edward III. He used many badges that showed his family history and some new ones he created himself.
Famous Royal Badges
| Monarch (Years Ruled) |
Badges | Examples |
|---|---|---|
 House of Plantagenet (1154–1399) |
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 King Henry II (1154–1189) |
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 King Richard I (1189–1199) |
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 King John (1199–1216) |
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 King Henry III (1216–1272) |
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 King Edward I (1272–1307) |
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 King Edward II (1307–1327) |
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 King Edward III (1327–1377) |
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.jpg) King Richard II (1377–1399) |
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 House of Lancaster (1399–1461) |
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.jpg) King Henry IV (1399–1413) |
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 King Henry V (1413–1422) |
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.jpg) King Henry VI (1422–1461) |
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 House of York (1461–1485) |
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 King Edward IV (1461–1483) |
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 King Edward V (1483) |
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 King Richard III (1483–1485) |
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 House of Tudor (1485–1603) |
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 King Henry VII (1485–1509) |
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 King Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
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 King Edward VI (1547–1553) |
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 Queen Mary I (1553–1558) |
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 Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
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 House of Stuart (1603–1649) |
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 King James I (1603–1625) |
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.svg)  .svg)  |
.jpg) King Charles I (1625–1649) |
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 Time Without a King (1649–1660) |
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| House of Stuart (Kings Return) (1660–1707) |
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.jpg) King Charles II (1660–1685) |
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 King James II (1685–1688) |
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 King William III and Queen Mary II (1689–1694) |
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 King William III (1689–1702) |
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 Queen Anne (1702–1707) |
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See also
- Heraldic badge
- Royal Standards of England
- Royal Supporters of England
- Queen's Beasts
- Royal Arms of England
- Prince of Wales's feathers
