The creepy detail on Meghan’s coat of arms that’s confusing the internet

THE Duchess of Sussex now has her very own coat of arms. But there’s one tiny detail that is raising questions online.

JUST as the excitement over Prince Harry and his Hollywood bride, Meghan Markle’s special day begins to die down, people are noticing a minute detail about the Duchess of Sussex’s new coat of arms.

When Kensington Palace released a statement and images of the design on Twitter, people were quick to identify the crowns on each of the “Supporters”. That’s the official term used to describe the two characters which hold up the shield. Prince Harry’s supporter is a lion, the standard for royal blood, wearing the crown perched on top of his head.

Meghan’s supporter is a songbird with a crown lower, around its neck, appearing to strangle it.

Meghan definitely doesn’t seem like she would take any sass in regards to her new coat of arms. So if the palace says she gave the tick of approval, you better believe it. Picture by Dominic Lipinski/WPA-Pool //GEORGEROGERS

According to the official statement from Kensington Palace, the blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of The Duchess’s home state. The three quills represent communication and the power of words.

Beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California’s state flower, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace.

Why is the crown around the doves neck? Also, the poor bird doesn’t look too happy either no reflection on the happy couple, but the dove really can stand on its own! I get the whole peace thing, but it’s not appropriate

— dp (@DonnaPerrotta) May 27, 2018

I am afraid to say what the crown around the bird neck means. Is it possible that the crown around the bird neck equates to strangulation. If that is the case the bird will not be able to communicate, having a sense of self, but slow death. Not natural death!

— Deborah Lao (@Daffodils45) May 26, 2018

Maybe drawing a crown to scale to fit on the dove's head would appear that she was "less than" ? The crown size as it is looks equal to Harry's, so..... A beautiful coat of arms none the less.

— 🌼Laurie🌼 (@5_by_26) May 25, 2018

“It is customary for Supporters of the shield to be assigned to Members of the Royal Family, and for wives of Members of the Royal Family to have one of their husband’s Supporters and one relating to themselves. The Supporter relating to The Duchess of Sussex is a songbird with wings elevated as if flying and an open beak, which with the quill represents the power of communication,” they said.

The statement didn’t mention anything about the position of the songbird’s crown though.

Markle, who is now officially a member of the royal family, with her own title, wed Harry in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle earlier this month.

Harry’s office announced the design for her coat of arms had been approved by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and Thomas Woodcock, the Senior Herald in England based at London’s College of Arms.

The Duchess of Sussex “worked closely with the College of Arms throughout the design process to create a Coat of Arms that was both personal and representative,” Kensington Palace said in a statement.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Coat of Arms with Kate’s supporter, the unicorn wearing the crown around its neck too.

So why does the songbird wear the crown around the neck instead of on the head?

It’s tradition. Markle is not the first duchess to be given a coat of arms with a supporter wearing a crown around its neck. In the joint coat of arms Kate Middleton and Prince William received two years after they were married, the Duchess of Cambridge is represented by a unicorn also wearing a crown around its neck. Even Princess Diana’s supporter, the griffin, has a crown around its neck.

So don’t freak out. It isn’t a subtle warning from the Queen for Meghan to watch her back, it’s just a little bit of royal tradition in a union that has typically been rather untraditional so far, but in a good way.

There’s no doubt harry and Meghan will live happily ever after with the fairytale ending, blessing the common folk with their awesomeness and regality for years to come..