[MR] BBC: Kate Middleton's Heraldic Arms

[Garth G. Groff]

Noble friends,

Opportunistic? A major reason for heraldry has long been self (or 
family) aggrandizement. But the English often refer to heraldic arms as 
"achievements", and at one time the were supposed to reflect this. I 
don't see symbolic ski slopes as a particular achievement. Party hats 
would be more appropriate to the Middleton family history, but hardly 
dignified. Since the Garter Principal King of Arms helped them design 
their device, it must be o.k., even if some elements aren't particularly 
inspiring. At least it is distinctive, and the colors are nice. I think 
the way the ribbon is done is particularly attractive. I also like the 
eight-pointed "lozenge", though this comes closer to a rococo shield 
than the diamond/lozenge we sometimes use in the SCA. I presume the Mr. 
Middleton's arms are displayed with a typical shield shape, and or 
course without the ribbon.

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot






________________________________
> From: Michelle<mobishob at yahoo.com>
> To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
> Sent: Sat, April 23, 2011 8:06:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [MR] BBC: Kate Middleton's Heraldic Arms
>
> Did any heralds cringe at the ski slopes in the design?  Maybe its just me, or
> maybe the tone of the article, but I got the impression the father was being
> opportunistic.
>
> It seems like the whole point of getting her heraldry approved was only to put
> her in the same social strata as her fiance.  But the father has taken advantage
>
> to increase the reputation of his family name.
>
>
> Please don't flame me too hard ;)   I'm ignorant of these things, but it just
> felt "off" and I'm wondering if anyone else had the same impression.
>
> Cheers
> Cynical Fen
>
>
>