Royal supporters of England facts for kids

• Lion and Falcon
• Two Lions
• Two Angels

King Edward III might have used a golden lion on one side and a silver falcon on the other. However, we don't have clear proof that kings used official animal supporters this early. Sometimes, two angels were shown with his shield.

• Two White Deer (Harts)

King Richard II famously used two white deer, called "harts," as his supporters. You can see them on Westminster Hall. The deer had collars and chains, which was a special symbol from his mother, Joan of Kent.

• Lion and Antelope
• Antelope and Swan
• Two Angels

King Henry IV might have used a lion and an antelope, or an antelope and a swan. The swan symbol came from his first wife's family, the de Bohuns. The antelope was also linked to the Bohun family.

• Lion and Antelope
• Swan and Antelope
• Two Feathers

King Henry V used a golden lion on one side and a silver antelope on the other. These were similar to the animals his father, Henry IV, used.

• Two Antelopes
• Lion and Panther
• Antelope and Tiger

King Henry VI's arms often showed two antelopes. He might have been the first English king to regularly use supporters as part of his official coat of arms, rather than just as decorations.

• Two Lions
• Lion and Bull
• Lion and Hart

King Edward IV often used two white lions. These lions were a symbol of the Mortimer family, from whom he was descended. Sometimes, he also used a black bull or a white deer (hart) as a supporter.

• Lion and Hart
• Lion and Hind

This young king, who ruled for a very short time, used the same supporters as his father: a white lion and a white deer (hart or hind).

• Two Boars
• Lion and Boar
• Boar and Bull

King Richard III was well known for using two white boars as his main supporters. The white boar was his personal symbol even before he became king.

• Red Dragon and White Greyhound
• Two Greyhounds
• Lion and Red Dragon

King Henry VII used a red dragon and a white greyhound. The red dragon was a symbol of his Welsh ancestors. The white greyhound was a symbol from his wife's family, the House of York, or possibly his mother's family, the Beauforts.

• Red Dragon and White Greyhound
• Crowned Lion and Red Dragon
• Red Dragon and Black Bull
• Red Dragon and White Cock

At first, King Henry VIII used the same supporters as his father: a red dragon and a white greyhound. Later, he changed them to a crowned golden lion and a red dragon.

• Lion and Red Dragon

King Edward VI used the same supporters as his father, Henry VIII, in the later part of his reign: a golden lion and a red dragon.

• Lion and Red Dragon
• Lion and White Greyhound
• Eagle and Lion (with Philip II of Spain)

Queen Mary I used a black eagle and a crowned golden lion. The eagle was a symbol from her husband, Philip II of Spain.

• Lion and Dragon (gold or red)
• Lion and White Greyhound

Queen Elizabeth I used the same supporters as her father, Henry VIII: a crowned lion and a dragon. Sometimes the dragon was shown in gold instead of red.

• Lion and Unicorn

When King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England, he brought a new supporter: the Scottish unicorn. Since then, the royal arms of England have been supported by a golden lion and a silver unicorn.

• Lion and Unicorn

King Charles I used the same supporters as his father, James I: the crowned golden lion and the silver unicorn.

• Lion and Red Dragon

During the time of Oliver Cromwell, when England was a republic, the royal symbols changed. The unicorn was replaced with the red dragon, a symbol from the Tudor period. This showed a clear break from the Stuart kings.

• Lion and Red Dragon

Richard Cromwell, Oliver's son, used the same lion and red dragon supporters during his short time in power.

• Lion and Unicorn

After the monarchy was restored, King Charles II brought back the traditional crowned golden lion and silver unicorn as his supporters.

• Lion and Unicorn

King James II also used the crowned golden lion and silver unicorn as his royal supporters.

• Lion and Unicorn

King William III and Queen Mary II continued to use the crowned golden lion and silver unicorn as their supporters.

• Lion and Unicorn

After Queen Mary's death, King William III continued to rule alone, using the same lion and unicorn supporters.

• Lion and Unicorn

Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch, also used the crowned golden lion and silver unicorn as her royal supporters.