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“God Save The King”

Paul C. Fanning, DTM

companies will be working night and day

to produce the new C III R insignia, but the
fraternity known as collectors will have a
heyday acquiring pieces of the old regime
and awaiting with bated breath the new. members (working staff) of the Royal Household,

I remember both my grandfather (a British whether it be at Buckingham Palace, Windsor
Army veteran) and my mother talking one day Castle, Sandringham, St. James’ Palace, or
about the reigns they had lived through, and the Balmoral Castle. I have a vest button worn during
multitude of changes wrought by them. For my the reign of Queen Victoria. It bears her royal

grandfather, he was born in the reign of Edward crest and crown, distinctive to her reign. There are
VII, son of the then longest serving monarch perhaps three forms of crowns used on insignia,
Queen Victoria, was in school during that of seals, and postage stamps to name a few. Primarily
George V, his son’s brief 1936 reign, Edward VIII, the Imperial State Crown is a round shape and is

then that of George VI the “for King and Country” normally used by the kings. I am assuming that
he served, and that of Elizabeth II. My mother was Charles III will use this crown on all his official
born at the end of George V’s reign, went through crests. Victoria used an angular arched crown and
the “year of the three kings” of 1936 to George Elizabeth St. Edward’s Crown with two rounded

VI for whom she too served as a Girl Guide and a arches. All well and good, you say, but in the realm
corporal of the Girl’s Training Corps during the of uniform buttons, an individual may wear up to
Second World War, to again Elizabeth II during ten on his (or her) uniform in two or three sizes.
which I joined the family. And of course, my The average footman’s scarlet coat and vest has

only experience was under one ruler-Elizabeth a staggering 36 gilt buttons on it! Each successive
until now. reign has had its crown/crest differences. In spite
Thus, what does the death of the monarch and of Charles’ “cutting back” campaign, they will still
the coronation of the new mean in the scheme have to replace the royal cypher of E II R with C

of the regalia and glittering uniforms of who III R on many of the state and royal uniforms,
serve the crown? Let me just mention a few areas buildings, vehicles, and coins and postage stamps.
that might be of interest to you. I have a very Do not forget that Canada, Australia, and most
small collection of uniform buttons worn by the of the commonwealth countries use her portrait

VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2022 31