The International Association of Amateur Heralds

Changes are taking place at the highest levels of the College of Arms.


Patrick Dickinson retired as Clarenceux King of Arms a few weeks ago, and Robert Duke has been moved from Norroy & Ulster to Clarenceux to succeed him.


As expected, given the well-established principle of appointment by seniority, the longest-serving herald, Robert Noel (Lancaster), has been promoted to Norroy & Ulster.

Thomas Woodcock is due to retire as Garter very soon. David White (Somerset) is now the most senior herald, so presumably he will be promoted to king of arms. Will he move directly to Garter, or will one of the other two kings get the post? We should find out within the next month or two.

I wonder if age will be taken into account. Duke will reach retirement age (70) in 2023, White in 2031 and Noel in 2032.

It is important to bear in mind that Garter has ceremonial roles unconnected with heraldry. The choice may fall on someone outside the obvious candidates by seniority.

Chris Green wrote:The choice may fall on someone outside the obvious candidates by seniority.

It may indeed. Looking at the record : of the nine Garters appointed over the past century or so :
- four were previously Norroy (or Norroy & Ulster) : Burke (1918), Wollaston (1930), Howard (1944) and Woodcock (2010)
- three were previously the most senior herald : Wagner (1961), Cole (1978), Gwynn-Jones (1995)
- two were previously the second most senior herald : Bellew (1950) and Swan (1992).

Interestingly, before the age limit was introduced, two Garters later stepped down and became provincial kings of arms :
- Sir Gerald Wollaston : Garter 1930-44, Norroy & Ulster 1944-57 (died in office)
- Sir Anthony Wagner : Garter 1961-78, Clarenceux 1978-95 (died in office).

So David Vines White has been promoted from Somerset Herald to Garter Principal King of Arms. Not so that one would know from the College of Arms! Found out about it from Lord Lyon's FB. The College's website does give Mr W as Garter, but has no announcement of the fact. One can but hope that one of his first acts will be to put some effort into PR. Publication of ALL new grants would be nice too.

I too found out via Lord Lyon. I suppose if you want information regarding the College of Arms, you only need to seek it from everywhere else than the actual College of Arms.

So, the tradition has been followed. As the new Garter turns sixty this year, he's looking at a reign of up to ten years. A reign which seems likely to include some major royal events in which the College will be involved.

In due course, no doubt, the most senior pursuivant (Adam Tuck, appointed Rouge Dragon two years ago) will be promoted to Lancaster Herald, and a new pursuivant will join the College.

From [i]London Gazette[/] 634o8 dated 5 July 2021 :

Crown Office

THE QUEEN has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 1 July 2021, to grant unto David Vines White, Esquire, Somerset Herald of Arms, the Office of Garter Principal King of Arms, vacant by the retirement of Sir Thomas Woodcock, K.C.V.O.

Interesting choice of verb : the Queen grants him the office, rather than appointing him to it.

Arthur Radburn wrote:Interesting choice of verb : the Queen grants him the office, rather than appointing him to it.

I was wondering whether the term related to the fact that the office is granted by Letters Patent. But checking with my own LPs as HM Consul in Stockholm I note that I was "nominated, constituted and appointed". It may of course be because the LPs were granted under the Great Seal of the Realm, something to which an appointment as Consul does not aspire.

It may have to do with the fact that Her Majesty is acting out of her royal prerogative? I wonder then if he can take the office for granted then?