Queen's College

The Heraldic Arms

These arms are those of the first foundress Queen, Margaret of Anjou, which she derived from those of her father René, Duke of Anjou, with the addition of a green border for the College. The six quarters of these arms represent the six lordships (either actual or titular) which he claimed.

Barry of eight argent and gules (for Hungary);	Azure semy of fleurs-de-lis or, a label ofthree pointsgules (for Anjou Ancient or Naples);	Argent, a cross potent between four crossescrosslet potent or(for Jerusalem)
Azure semy of fleurs-de-lis or, a borduregules (for Anjou Modern);	Azure semy of crosses crosslet fitchy, two barbelshaurient addorsed or (for Bar);	Or, on a bend gules three alerions displayed argent (for Lorraine);

all within a bordure vert.

The green border appears to be intended as a difference for Queens' College.

These arms are of interest because the third quarter (Jerusalem) uses gold on silver, a combination which is extremely rare in heraldry. The cross potent is a visual pun on the letters Hand I, the first two letters of Hierusalem.

There is plenty of historical evidence for the label being redinthe second quarter, although being on another colour (blue), it off ends against practice in English heraldry.

The College badge

These are not truly arms of the College, but, rather, a badge.

Sable a cross and crozier insaltire or surmounted by a boar'shead argent.

The silver boar's head was the badge of King Richard III of England. Richard's wife AnneNeville was the third Queenconsort to be patroness of theCollege.

An inventory of the college silver taken in 1544 records:

Item antiquum sigillum argenteum ex dono Ricardi scdi R.Anglieinsculptum porcellis seu apris.

Item: an ancient silver seal given by Richard theSecond,King of England, engraved with a little pigorboar.

Here, the abbreviation scdi for Secundi (Second) is clearlyamistake for tertii (Third). The seal does not survive.

This is the earliest evidence for the College's use of aboar'shead symbol.

The gold cross stands for St Margaret, and the gold crozier for St Bernard, the two patronsaints ofQueens' College. There is also a somewhat far-fetchedsuggestionthat the saltire arrangement of these (like the St Andrew's Cross) is an allusion to Andrew Dokett, founder (in fact if not in name) and first President of Queens'.

Today, this badge is widely used by College Clubs, andalsoappears in connection with food or dining.

The College scarf

Queens' College scarves are green with two white stripes. When made to the traditional colours, the green in Queens' Collegescarves is darker than the green in Girton College scarves. For the scarves of other colleges, click here.

For the scarves of various College Clubs, click here.