Creepy detail on Meghan's coat of arms has the internet confused

Publish date
Tuesday, 29 May 2018, 2:00PM

Meghan's Markle's coat of arms has been revealed as she joins the rest of the royal family who each have a special design which signifies their rank and their identity.

But there's one aspect about the design that has a lot of people confused.

The songbird - representative of Meghan's supporter - has a crown around its lower neck, which some people felt looked a little bit creepy as it appeared to be strangled by it.

However, there is actually a very simple reason for the odd placement of the crown, and it all has to do with tradition.

The crown actually signifies Meghan's Duchess of Sussex title and the same goes for all who hold the title of duke or duchess.

Even Kate Middleton's supporter, a unicorn, and Princess Diana's griffin supporter wore crowns around their neck.

The meaning contained in Meghan's coat of arms

1. The shield's blue background represents the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Meghan's native California

2. The golden rays across the shield are another nod to the Sunshine State

3. The three quills represent communication and the power of words 

4. On the grass beneath the shield are golden poppies, California's state flower, and wintersweet, which grows in the gardens at Kensington Palace

5. The shield has two Supporters, one a lion, which relates to Prince Harry's shield and also appears on her husband's coat of arms, the other - representing the Duchess herself - a songbird with wings elevated as if flying and an open beak - another nod to the power of communication

6. A coronet has been assigned to the Duchess of Sussex - the coronet laid down by a Royal Warrant of 1917 for the sons and daughters of the Heir Apparent - and composed of two crosses patée, four fleurs-de-lys and two strawberry leaves.

This article was first published on Daily Mail and is republished here with permission. Additional reporting by The Hits.

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