The Royal Lion of England
The Royal Lion of England is a Crowned beast, and as the Lion the King of the Beasts it has been the most utilized of decorative devices in Royal history. The Lion is the earliest Royal beast with King Richard I, Richard the Lionheart being the first King to incorporate the Lion on the Royal Coat of Arms in England in 1189. HM The Queen's own Royal Lion of England was held in place of honour by the door of Westminster Abbey when the Queen made her entrance to the Abbey for her Coronation in 1952.
The restored Royal Coat of Arms
The Royal Crest is described in heraldry terms as; Upon the Royal helmet an imperial crown proper, thereon statant gardant Or, a lion statant imperially crowned also proper. This original woodcarving of the Royal Lion of England had stood on the top of the Crest of the Royal Arms from before the last century, however time and the elements had taken its toll and Ian G Brennan was commissioned to make a replacement this time to be cast in bronze. Ian carved the replacement from green wax, which was then moulded. From this original mould a bronze version of the Lion of England set upon the Royal Crown was produced in bronze. This bronze casting was then painted and gilded and placed upon the Royal Arms which are now placed above the entrance of the Royal College of Arms in London.
The Royal Crest removed
The bronze casting before and after being painted and gilded bronze
The Lion of England
bronze 8 inches high ( 20.5 cm )