Last modified: 2014-12-13 by rob raeside
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Edward VIII abdicated before his coronation.
![[Prince of Wales]](../images/g/gb_rspw11.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 16 April 2007
Based on 1913 amendment to Flaggenbuch 1905
Escutcheon of the Arms of Wales ensigned with a Ducal Coronet on the Royal
Standard.
King George V succeeded King Edward VII in 1910 and his son
Edward was granted the title Prince of Wales. The opportunity was taken to
modify the Standard of the Prince of Wales, and the shield of Saxony was
replaced by a shield of the Arms of Wales ensigned with a Ducal Coronet.
This flag raises an heraldic question about the relationship between labels and
escutcheons. In most cases they do not interfere with each other, but here the
coronet is superimposed on the centre point of the label. The points in some
drawings of the Arms of the Duke and Prince of Connaught (12 and 13) are very
long, and the central point lies over the escutcheon of Saxony. Do labels and
escutcheons have relative importance, or is it a matter of chronology with the
later addition lying over the earlier one ?
David Prothero, 16 April
2007
It is a matter of chronology. The label, being a later addition, can lie over
the escutcheon, since it is a mark of difference for the son of the Prince of
Wales. In fact there should be at least a small amount of overlap so that it is
clear that the label is an addition after the escutcheon. It is, however,
preferable that there not be too much of an overlap, since it is often necessary
to show certain details.
Mike Oettle, 17 April 2007
The inescutcheon of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is on the standard of the Prince of
Wales in the 1905 Flaggenbuch. According to my
notes the same inescutcheon is on the standard shown in the
1907 Admiralty Flag Book. There was no edition
in 1910, but in the 1915 edition the inescutcheon of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha had been
replaced by the shield from the Welsh arms. It seems that this happened when
George V granted arms to Edward (VIII) Prince of Wales in about 1910, but the
inescutcheon of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha continued on the standards of the Duke of
Connaught and 'Other Members of the Royal Family' until 1917 when the family
name was changed to Windsor.
David Prothero, 12 February 2005
I seem to recall a photo of the Duke of Windsor's flag (crown on white label
for difference) laid on his coffin.
Jan Mertens, 3 November 2005
Arms differenced with a three point label charged with one Royal Crown were
granted to Edward after he had abdicated and been given the title Duke of
Windsor, but it is unlikely that he was ever granted a Standard based on these
Arms.
David Prothero, 21 April 2007
It lay on his coffin - it may not have been granted of course.
According to Boutell's Heraldry (Rev.Ed. 1963) the label was charged with an
Imperial Crown proper (p. 219, ill. 381). Shown is a royal (Tudor) crown in the
style of the period.
Jan Mertens, 21 April 2007
I see that reports of his funeral state that his coffin was covered with his
Personal Standard, although in 1969, just three years before his death,
Campbell and Evans (1965) in "Book
of Flags" wrote "he has not yet been granted a flag". If correct, this does suggest that the flag was made
specifically for his funeral. I have the impression that Personal Royal
Standards (perhaps other than impaled versions?) are flown only when that
person is on official duty and in effect representing the Sovereign? The
Duke of Windsor, I think, never undertook any official duties other than
Governor of Bahamas, for which the Governor's flag would have sufficed.
David Prothero, 22 April 2007
Confirmation of the use of a personal Royal Standard at the funeral of the
Duke of Windsor appears in a clip near the end of a television programme
'Britain's Nazi King'. A St. Edward's crown can be seen on the one visible point of the
label of the Royal Standard covering the coffin.
David Prothero, 21
July 2009, 22 November 2014
Edward VIII's funeral took place on 05 June 1972 in St George's Chapel,
Windsor, followed by burial at Frogmore on the estate.
Video from the event
is available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/5/newsid_2496000/2496577.stm
Colin Dobson, 22 July 2009
A colour photo gives the essential detail (Tudor crown on white label) at
http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/BE063407.html.
Jan Mertens,
3 April 2010
The crown on his Arms, which the Standard should copy, is a Tudor crown.
David Prothero, 22 November 2014
Continued in: Reign of George VI