English: One of the floral heraldic badges of the United Kingdom since 1801
with the Irish shamrock on the proper right, the Scots thistle on the proper left, and both grafted onto the stem of the English Tudor rose. Above all the St Edward's Crown. (During the reign of Victoria the crown was changed to a different crown, and reverted to the St Edward's crown at the start of Elizabeth II's reign.) Blazon
the Rose of England, the Thistle of Scotland, and the Shamrock of Ireland engrafted on the same stem proper ... ensigned with the Royal Crown
This badge and its mirror image (with the thistle on the proper right and the shamrock on the left) were approved by George III by an Order in Council in November 1800. The other heraldic badge of the United Kingdom is the
crowned shield of arms of the Union. Similar badges, without the shamrock and red saltire, were the heraldic badges of the United Kingdom between 1 May 1707 and 31 December 1800, having been approved by Queen Anne by an Order in Council subsequent to the Acts of Union, whose first and twenty-fourth articles deal with Anne's royal prerogative to determine the heraldry and order of heraldic precedence of the new United Kingdom:
... And that the Ensigns Armorial of the said United Kingdom be such as Her Majesty shall appoint and the Crosses of St George and St Andrew be conjoyned in such manner as Her Majesty shall think fit and used in all Flags Banners Standards and Ensigns both at Sea and Land.
— Article I, Union with Scotland Act 1706
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... And that the Ensigns Armorial of the said United Kingdom be such as Her Majesty shall appoint and the Crosses of St Andrew and St George be conjoined in such manner as Her Majesty shall think fit and used in all Flags Banners Standards and Ensigns both at Sea and Land
— Article I, Union with England Act 1707
. The United Kingdom of Queen Anne therefore used
a thistle grafted onto a Tudor rose's stem and royally crowned George III's prerogative to determine to national heraldry and flag of the second United Kingdom is similarly enunciated by the Acts of Union 1800:
... and that the royal stile and titles appertaining to the imperial crown of the said United Kingdom and its dependencies, and also the ensigns, armorial flags and banners thereof, shall be such as his Majesty, by his royal proclamation under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, shall be pleased to appoint.
— Article I, Union with Ireland Act 1800
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... and that the royal stile and titles appertaining to the imperial crown of the said united kingdom and its dependencies, and also the ensigns, armourial flags and banners thereof, shall be such as his Majesty by his royal proclamation under the great seal of the united kingdom shall be pleased to appoint.
— Article I, Act of Union (Ireland) 1800
The floral badge is, for example, worn prominently on the uniforms of the Yeomen Warders, the Yeomen of the Guard, etc.; appears as the "Union Wreath" on various regimental colours, military uniforms, etc.; and is frequently seen as in architecture and the decorative arts throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. A bejewelled version of the floral Union Badge appears prominently on the Diamond State Diadem itself (alternating with the crosses-pattée in place of the traditional
fleurs-de-lys) designed for George IV's coronation (the first after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland) and worn by queens thereafter; Elizabeth II wore it for her own coronation and for the state openings of parliament, as well as wearing it on all bank notes, stamps, and coins.