The deputy editor of conservative online newspaper ConservativeHome has called for a symbol of Wales to be included the royal coat of arms. His comments follow a debate sparked by the new King Charles 50p coin which uses the Royal family's historic coat of arms which contains the symbols of Ireland, Scotland and England (twice). Wales is not included in the flag and is represented separately on the coin with a leek.
Henry Hill, deputy editor of ConservativeHome, a website providing coverage of Conservative Party politics, has said it would be a "simple and generous" gesture to update the royal arms to include Wales and called for the Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, to take action.
Mr Hill argued that unionist politicians should understand: "No matter how important the economic prospectus for independence is to voters, another decider of their vote will simply be how British they feel – and that will depend in part on the extent to which being British is part of the texture of their day-to-day lives."
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Wales isn't included in the coat of arms because when Wales was incorporated into the United Kingdom, Wales was legally a part of England due to the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. This means Wales did not become a part of the Union willingly and as a separate nation in the way Scotland did.
But, argued Henry Hill, "this is obviously no longer Wales' modern status" and there is "no reason" the coat of arms should not be updated. He acknowledged that policies like changing the coat of arms would not be an alternative to "substantive constitutional combat," but that unionists could score an "easy win" by incorporating Wales into the monarchy's imagery ahead of the coronation.
"Whilst changing the national flag would be a step too far (not least for simple design reasons)," he wrote, "there is no reason that the King’s coat of arms should not be updated. It would be a simple and generous gesture – and very fitting for a man who held the post of Prince of Wales as long as His Majesty."
He added that a distinct order of chivalry should be created for Wales too, to match the English Order of the Garter and the Scottish Order of the Thistle. As well as suggesting the UK Government should revive the Order of St Patrick for Northern Ireland, he suggested an "Order of St David," "Order of the Daffodil" or "Order of the Dragon" should be established and called on the Welsh secretary to push for it.
The reverse of the new King Charles III 50p piece features a design that originally appeared on the 1953 Coronation Crown and shows, as the Monarchy's website describes, "the shield showing the various Royal emblems of different parts of the United Kingdom" namely "the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third."
Between the shields are emblems of each home nation - a rose, a thistle, a shamrock and a leek. In a recent opinion piece for WalesOnline, Welsh affairs editor Will Hayward said it was "really good" to have some recognition of each devolved nation, but added: "we are still at a point where there are three symbols of England, two of Ireland and one of Wales... If you are a supporter of the Union, acknowledging all the complement parts of that union should be a priority."
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