International Heraldry Day

 Today, June 10th is International Heraldry Day!

To mark this, here are some portraits of Scottish knights in the service of the King of Sweden:

Two new Knights of the Thistle

 Huge congratulations to Sir Jim McDonald and  Sir James Macmillan on their appointment by the King to the Order of the Thistle. The photograph shows Sir James in the Armoury of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, where The Sixteen has performed his music as part of their choral pilgrimage. 

 The Armoury organ was bought in 1609 as part of a consignment of luxury goods from the Dutch merchant John Haan. Its maker is unknown, but it is currently thought to be English. It was set up by Thomas Dallam at Hatfield in 1611 when it received its lavish decoration by the artist Rowland Buckett for £26 13s 4d. It was substantially rebuilt by Robert Gray in 1738.

The 1609 organ at Hatfield House
(Photo  PictureThisuk.org
"limited cc" (Creative Commons License))

The central coat of arms is that of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, the daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham by his second wife, Frances Newton.

The left coat is that of their daughter, Lady Francis Cecil (1593–1644) and her husband Henry Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland.

The coat of arms on the far right is their son, William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury and his wife Lady Catherine Howard (daughter of the 1st Earl of Suffolk) whom he married in 1608.

New Grant of Arms

 On Tuesday 26 May, the Lord Lyon was pleased to present Letters Patent to John Vernon Dent MBE, son of George Vernon Dent MBE, accompanied by his son, John David Vernon Dent MBE, they both enjoyed a tour of the Office and viewed the Public Register of all Arms and Bearings where the arms already reside. The artist is Adel Gaspar.

The blazon is: "Or on a bend Azure three lozenges Ermine in chief two swords in saltire points upwards Proper and in base a jackdaw Proper."

Dr Joseph Scott

  Dr Joseph Scott (1870-1939) was born in Campbeltown and went to Glasgow University, graduating in medicine in 1894. He was for a short time medical officer of health in Basra, and then moved to Tehran in the late 1890s to act as surgeon to the Royal Hospital and the British Legation. He made an important study of the Tehran cholera epidemic in the 1920s and was a great promoter of vaccination and revaccination. Decorated by the Shah, Scott was granted arms in 1920 including a clever emblazoning of the Persian flag.

Or on a bend Azure a mullet between two crescents of the First, in the sinister chief an Aescalapian Rod  Proper, on a chief parted per fess Vert and Gules a bar Argent.  

New Grant of Arms

  The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Dr Tomás Rohan. The artist is Annette Reed. 

Gules a chevron Ermine between trhee lozenges Or,.

New Grant of Arms

  The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Major Paul Rorie TD. The artist was Gayle Page.

Blazon: Or a chevron Gules in chief two hands Proper each holding a cross crosslet fitche Azure and in base a bear rampant Sable langued Gules.

Rothesay Herald granted extension

  The Lord Lyon has been pleased today to vary His Commission appointing George Way of Plean as Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary, extending the appointment by two years until George Way of Plean attains the age of seventy-two years in May 2028.

Supreme Court in Glasgow

  This evening,  the Lord Lyon was the guest of the Lord Provost of Glasgow at a dinner held in the City Chambers to mark the occasion of The UK Supreme Court sessions in Glasgow. The emblem of the Supreme Court was designed by Yvonne Holton when Herald Painter to the Lyon Court.

General Assembly Service 2026

 The Lord Lyon and Officers of Arms were in attendance on Her Grace the Lord High Commissioner this morning at the General Assembly Service at St Giles.

Lord High Commissioner's Concert

  On the 15th May, the Lord Lyon attended a piano recital by Ethan Loch hosted by Her Grace the Lord High Commissioner at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Chocolate Chip Day

 Radio 3 tells me today is National Chocolate Chip Day for which we offer the arms of John Stewart Birrell, granted in 1922, proprietor of a much-loved Glasgow confectioners.

It is said that the shops were so quiet you could hear a pan drop.

Blazon: Per chevron Or and Azure three roundels chequy two and one those in chief of the Second and Argent that in base of the Last and of the Second.

Ceremony of the Keys

 The Lord Lyon, with Marchmont Herald and Bute Pursuivant, was on duty today for the Ceremony of the Keys with Her Grace the Lord High Commissioner Lady Elish Angiolini LT, DBE, KC.

Kirking of the Parliament

  The Lord Lyon attended the Kirking of the Scottish Parliament in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Many of the parliamentarians old and new were in attendance.