Great Seal of the Realm

The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom (prior to the Union the Great Seal of England, then Great Seal of Great Britain) is a seal that is used to symbolise the monarch's approval of important state documents. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official.

History

Edward the Confessor sometime before 1066 started using a Great Seal casting in wax of his own visage to signify that a document carried the force of his will. With some exceptions, each subsequent British monarch has chosen his or her own design for the Great Seal.

During the Glorious Revolution in 1688, before attempting to flee to France, James II threw his Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames.

Edward VIII, who abdicated in order to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson only a few months after succeeding to the throne, never selected a design for his own seal and continued to use that of his predecessor, George V. On the other hand, the longer-lived British monarchs have had several Great Seals during their reigns. Only one matrix of the Great Seal exists at a time, and since the wax used for the Great Seal has a high melting point, the silver plates that cast the Seal eventually wear out. Queen Victoria had to select four different Great Seal designs during the sixty-three years of her reign. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2001%2F02%2F16%2Fnseal16.xml New seal of approval for Queen - Telegraph ] ]

The current seal matrix was authorised by the Privy Council in July 2001. [ [http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=44322&NewsAreaID=2 GNN - Government News Network ] ] It was designed by James Butler and replaced that of 1953, designed by Gilbert Ledward. The obverse shows the Queen enthroned and robed, holding in her right hand a sceptre and in her left the orb. The circumscription ELIZABETH . II . D . G . BRITT . REGNORVMQVE . SVORVM . CETER . REGINA . CONSORTIONIS . POPVLORVM . PRINCEPS . F . D . is the abbreviated Latin form of the royal title. [In full: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina Consortionis Populorum Princeps Fidei Defensor. [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/britstyles.htm#1953] This is the official Latin form of the royal title: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/royalstyle.htm#uk1] ] On the reverse are the full royal arms, including crest, mantling and supporters. This is the first time that the royal arms have provided the main design for one side of the British Great Seal. The reverse of the 1953 version depicted the Queen on horseback, dressed in uniform and riding sidesaddle, as she used to attend the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony. The seal's diameter is six inches and the combined weight of both sides of the seal matrix exceeds 275 troy ounces.

Usage

The Great Seal is attached to the official documents of state that require the authorization of the monarch to implement the advice of the Government. Under today's usage of the Great Seal, seals of dark green wax are affixed to letters patent elevating individuals to the peerage, blue seals authorize actions relating to the Royal family, and scarlet seals appoint bishops and implement various other affairs of state. In some cases the seal is replaced by a wafer version, a smaller representation of the obverse of the Great Seal embossed on coloured paper attached to the document being sealed. This simpler version is used for royal proclamations, letters-patent granting the royal assent, writs of summons to Parliament and for licences for the election of bishops and commissions of the peace. It formerly constituted treason to forge the Great Seal.

The Great Seal of the Realm is in the custody of and administered by the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. This office has been held jointly with that of Lord Chancellor since 1761. The current Lord Chancellor is Jack Straw. The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 reiterates that the Lord Chancellor continues to be the custodian of the Great Seal.

The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, who is also Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (formerly the Department of Constitutional Affairs), heads Her Majesty's Crown Office, and is responsible for the affixing of the Great Seal. He is assisted by the Deputy Clerk of the Crown. Day-to-day custody is entrusted to the Clerk of the Chamber, and subordinate staff include a Sealer, and two Scribes to Her Majesty's Crown Office.

Inscriptions on the Great Seal

The Great Seal for each successive monarch is inscribed with the monarch's names and titles on both sides of the seal. Some of those used in the past are shown below. Where the inscriptions on both sides of the seal are identical, only one is given. Where they are the same except for the use of abbreviations, the one with the fuller forms is given. Where they are different, they are shown separated by a slash.

* Edward the Confessor. SIGILLVM EADVVARDI ANGLORVM BASILEI
** Seal of Edward, King of the English.
* William II of England. WILLELMVS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORVM
** William, by the grace of God, King of the English.
* Henry I of England. HENRICVS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORVM / HENRICVS DEI GRATIA DVX NORMANNORVM
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of the English / Henry, by the grace of God, Duke of the Normans.
* Stephen of England. STEPHANVS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORVM
** Stephen, by the grace of God, King of the English.
* Henry II of England. HENRICVS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORVM / HENR [ICVS] DEI GRA [TIA] DVX NORMANNORVM ET AQUIT [ANORVM] ET COM [ES] ANDEG [AVORVM]
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of England / Henry, by the grace of God, Duke of the Normans and of the Aquitanians and Count of the Angevins.
* Richard I of England. RICARDVS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORVM / RICARDVS DEI GRATIA DVX NORMANNORVM ET AQUITANORVM ET COMES ANDEGAVORVM
** Richard, by the grace of God, King of England / Richard, by the grace of God, Duke of the Normans and of the Aquitanians and Count of the Angevins.
* John of England. IOHANNES DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE ET DOMINVS HIBERNIE / IOH [ANNE] S DVX NORMANNIE ET AQUITANIE COMES ANDEGAVIE
** John, by the grace of God, King of England and Lord of Ireland / John, Duke of Normandy and of Aquitaine, Count of Anjou.
* Henry III of England. HENRICVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE DOMINVS HIBERNIE DVX AQUITANIE
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine.
* Edward I of England. EDWARDVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE DOMINVS HYBERNIE DVX AQUITANIE
** Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine.
* Edward II of England. EDWARDVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE DOMINVS HYBERNIE DVX AQUITANIE
** Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine.
* Edward III of England. EDWARDVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE D [OMI] N [V] S HIBERNIE ET AQUITANIE
** Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine.
* Richard II of England. RICARDVS DEI GRACIA REX FRANCIE ET ANGLIE ET D [OMI] N [V] S HIBERNIE
** Richard, by the grace of God, King of France and England and Lord of Ireland.
* Henry IV of England. HENRICVS DEI GRACIA REX FRANCIE ET ANGLIE ET D [OMI] N [V] S HIBERNIE
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of France and England and Lord of Ireland.
* Henry V of England. HENRICVS DEI GRACIA REX FRANCIE ET ANGLIE ET D [OMI] N [V] S HIBERNIE / HENRICVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE ET FRANCIE ET DOMINUS HIBERNIE
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of France and England and Lord of Ireland / Henry, by the grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland.
* Henry VI of England. HENRICVS DEI GRACIA FRANCORVM ET ANGLIE REX
** Henry, by the grace of God, of the French and of England, King.
* Edward IV of England. EDWARDVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE & FRANCIE ET DOMINVS HIBERNIE
** Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland.
* Richard III of England. RICARDVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE ET FRANCIE ET DOMINVS HIBERNIE
** Richard, by the grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland.
* Henry VII of England. HENRICVS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE ET FRANCIE ET DOMINVS HIBERNIE
** Henry, by the grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland.
* Henry VIII of England. HENRICVS OCTAV [V] S DEI GRATIA ANGLIE ET FRANCIE ET HIBERNIE REX FIDEI DEFE [N] SOR ET [IN] TER [R] A ECCLESIA [E] A [N] GLICANE ET HIBERNICE SVPREM [VM] CA [PVT]
** Henry the Eighth, by the grace of God, of England and France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and on Earth, of the England and Irish Church, Supreme Head.
* Edward VI of England. ... EDWARDI SEXTI DEI GRATIA ANGLIE FRANCIE / ET HIBERNIE REX FIDEI DEFE [N] SOR ET IN TERRA ECCLESIE ANGLICANE ET HIBERNICE SVPREMVM CAPVT
** ... of Edward the Sixth, by the grace of God of England, France / and of Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and on Earth, of the English and Irish Church, Supreme Head.
* Mary I of England. MARIA D [EI] G [RATIA] ANGLIE FRANCIE ET HIBERNIE REGINA EIVS NOMINIS PRIMA FIDEI DEFENSOR
** Mary, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, Queen, first of her name, Defender of the Faith.
* Elizabeth I of England. ELIZABETHA DEI GRACIA ANGLIE FRANCIE ET HIBERNIE REGINA FIDEI DEFENSOR
** Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
* James I of England. IACOBVS DEI GRACIA ANGLIÆ SCOTIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
** James, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
* Charles I of England. CAROLVS DEI GRATIA ANGLIÆ SCOTIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
** Charles, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
* Commonwealth of England. THE GREAT SEAL OF ENGLAND / IN THE THIRD YEARE OF FREEDOME BY GODS BLESSING RESTORED
* Oliver Cromwell. OLIVARIVS DEI GRA [TIA] REIP [VBLICÆ] ANGLIÆ SCOTIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ &C PROTECTOR
** Oliver, by the grace of God, of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, etc., Protector.
* Richard Cromwell. RICHARDVS DEI GRA [TIA] REIP [VBLICÆ] ANGLIÆ SCOTIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ &C PROTECTOR
** Richard, by the grace of God, of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, etc., Protector.
* Charles II of England. CAROLVS II DEI GRA [TIA] MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
** Charles II, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
* James II of England. IACOBVS SECVNDVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
** James the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
* William and Mary. GVLIELMVS III ET MARIA II DEI GRA [TIA] ANG [LIÆ] FRA [NCIÆ] ET HIB [ERNIÆ] REX ET REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATORES / AUREA FLORIGERIS SUCCRESCUNT POMA ROSETIS : SECURITAS BRITANNIÆ RESTITUTA
** William III and Mary II, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith / Golden apples grow in flowering rosebushes : The security of Britain restored.
* William III of England. GVLIELMVS III DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
** William III, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
* Anne of England. ANNA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REGINA FID [EI] DEFENSOR
** Anne, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
* Anne of Great Britain. ANNA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REGINA FID [EI] DEFENSOR / BRITANNIA ANNO REGNI ANNÆ REGINÆ SEXTO
** Anne, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith / Britain in the sixth year of the reign of Queen Anne.
* George I of Great Britain. GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR / BRVNSWICEN [SIS] ET LVNENBVRGEN [SIS] DVX SACRI ROMANI IMPERII ARCHITESAVRARIVS ET PRINCEPS ELECTOR
**George, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith / Of Brunswick and Lüneburg, Duke, of the Holy Roman Empire, Arch-treasurer and Prince-Elector.
* George II of Great Britain. GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX FIDEI DEFENSOR / BRVNSWICE [NSIS] ET LVNEBVRGEN [SIS] DVX SACRI ROMANI IMPERII ARCHITHESAVRARIVS ET PRINCEPS ELECTOR
**George, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith / Of Brunswick and Lüneburg, Duke, of the Holy Roman Empire, Arch-treasurer and Prince-Elector.
* Victoria of the United Kingdom. VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIARUM REGINA FIDEI DEFENSOR [ [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/royalstyle_uk.htm] ]
**Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith.
* George V of the United Kingdom. GEORGIVS V D [ei] G [ratia] MAG [nae] BR [itanniae] HIB [erniae] ET TERR [arum] TRANSMAR [inarum] QVAE IN DIT [ione] SVNT BRIT [annica] REX F [idei] D [efensor] IND [iae] IMP [erator] [ [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/royalstyle_uk.htm] ]
**"George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Lands across the sea which are in the British Dominion, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India"
* George VI of the United Kingdom. GEORGIUS VI D [ei] G [ratia] MAG [nae] BR [itanniae] HIB [erniae] ET TERR [arum] TRANSMAR [inarum] QUAE IN DIT [ione] SUNT BRIT [annica] REX F [idei] D [efensor] IND [iae] IMP [erator] [ [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/royalstyle_uk.htm] ]
**"George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Lands across the sea which are in the British Dominion, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India"

ee also

*Great Seal
*Great Seal of Northern Ireland
*Great Seal of Scotland
*Papal Bull

External links

* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5015.asp British monarchy website]
* [http://yeomenoftheguard.com/great_seals_of_state.htm Great Seals of State]

Note