| Coat of arms of Jersey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Charles III,Duke of Normandy |
| Adopted | 1907 |
| Shield | Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure |
Thecoat of arms of Jersey is theheraldic device consisting of ashieldcharged with three goldlions on a red field. Utilised unofficially before the 20th century, its status as thecoat of arms of the Bailiwick ofJersey was formalized in 1907. The escutcheon is featured on theflag of the dependency.
TheChannel Islands were part of theDuchy of Normandy until 1204, when theKingdom of England lost sovereignty over the duchy but retained control of the islands. These were subsequently split into the bailiwicks ofGuernsey andJersey later that century. They have been governed by the English Crown ever since, save for five years duringWorld War II.[1][2]
The widespread usage of theroyal arms of England on the islands led many residents to consider the arms a symbol of Jersey.[3] The claimed usage by the island of the arms was sanctioned byEdward VII in 1907.[4] During theGerman occupation in the Second World War, the dependency was allowed to print its ownpostage stamps for the first time given its inability to access supplies from mainland Britain.[5] However, it was barred from utilising the image of the monarch or any reference of Jersey's connection to the United Kingdom. One inhabitant, N. V. L. Rybot, suggested employing the island's coat of arms instead. This design was approved – with the Germans apparently unaware that it was also the royal arms of the monarch – and the stamps were first issued on 1 April 1941.[5]
ARoyal Warrant was issued on 10 December 1980, appending the coat of arms to theflag of the dependency and topping it with aPlantagenet crown. This was approved by theStates Assembly on 7 April of the following year:[3]
Jersey Flag
The Bailiff informed the House thatH. M. Queen had now approved the new design of the Jersey Flag in accordance with the request of the House. The official description of the new flag was as follows –
"Argent aSaltireGules in thehonour point anEscutcheon also Gules thereon threeLions passant guardant Or (being theRoyal Arms as used and borne by Our Island of Jersey) ensigned by an Ancient Crown (such as has been attributed unto Our Royal Predecessors being of theHouse of Plantagenet) of Gold"
The new flag was operative from now but the Bailiff added that it was not an Ensign and should not therefore be worn on the ensign staff of Jersey yachts which would continue to use the Red Ensign or Blue or White in the case of members of certain yacht clubs.
— Minutes of the States Assembly, 7 April 1981
The colours and objects on the coat of arms carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The three gold lions (lions passant guardant)[6] are identical to the royal arms of England. Coupled with the dynastic crown on the flag, this represents the loyalty of thepeople of Jersey to theHouse of Plantagenet.[3]
The shield from the arms features on the flag of Jersey,[7] and on the flag of thedependency's lieutenant governor.[6] It was added to the former in 1980,[3] in order to distinguish the banner fromSaint Patrick's Saltire.[8]
The Lieutenant-Governor flies the Union Flag with a badge superimposed on the centre of the St. George's Cross. This badge consists of a red Jersey shield charged with three lions (sometimes referred to as leopards) passant guardant in gold (taken from the Seal), on a white circular background encircled by a garland.
