User:Stephen2nd/Royal Labels of England

Heraldic labels are used to differentiate the individual coats of arms of members of the royal family of the United Kingdom. In the Gallo-British heraldic tradition, cadency marks have been available to "difference" the arms of a son from those of his father, and the arms of brothers from each other, and traditionally this was often done when it was considered important for each man to have a distinctive individual coat of arms and/or to differentiate the arms of the head of a house from junior members of the family. This was especially important in the case of arms of sovereignty, since someone who displayed the undifferenced arms of a kingdom would be heraldically claiming the throne. Therefore in the English royal family, systematic cadency marks were used from the time of Henry III of England, typically a label or bordure alluding to the arms of the bearer's mother or wife. For the next three generations, the heir apparent differenced with a label azure, while other sons used a label or bordure of a different tincture, or bearing charges. After about 1340, when Edward III of England made a claim to the throne of France, a blue label did not contrast sufficiently with the blue field of the French quarter of the royal arms; accordingly the heir apparent used a label argent. Bordures of various tinctures continued to be used into the 15th century.

The label
In the ordinary system of differences a label of three points (which has also been termed a label with three filess) is the distinction of the eldest son during the lifetime of his father. In the oldest rolls of arms the labels are all of five points; but labels of three points were at an early period used interchangeably. Labels are the principal cadency marks used in certain royal families. In the English and British royal family, all labels are argent (white). The sons and daughters of the sovereign all bear labels of three points argent; that of the Prince of Wales is plain, but all others are charged. Further descendants of princes bear labels of five points charged. All such differences should be borne on the arms, crest, and supporters.

The system of a special mark for difference for each member of the family goes back to the time of Henry III, whose successor, as a prince, placed such a mark on the shield of England. Since 1340 this label has almost always been white, and overlaid with small figures, or charges, such as red crosses of St George. This red cross represents England and its patron saint, and was first borne by Richard of Bordeaux (future king Richard II) before the death of his father the Black Prince in 1376. Other charges used include the gold fleur-de-lis representing France, the Ermine spot, and the Torteau.