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Like, what's the public description of the symbol if there is one?
Originally posted by pondrthis
Ha! EIIR is everywhere is britain. It just means:
Elizabeth II Reginalta or Regina or something,
Queen Elizabeth the Second in Latin.
At the centre of the Service crest, which was approved by the Garter, Principal King of Arms in 1981, is a golden winged sea lion on a blue background which represents our historical association with the three armed services. The colour blue signifies our overseas ties. Surrounding this central emblem are three further symbols: a green cinquefoil, a portcullis and a red rose. The cinquefoil's five petals allude to the "5" in MI5, and the colour green has been associated with intelligence since the First World War.
The portcullis, traditionally a symbol of parliament, relates to the Service's function of upholding parliamentary democracy, and the crown over the top of the portcullis at the top of the crest refers to our status as crown servants. The rose has historical associations with state intelligence work - Sir Francis Walsingham, the head of Queen Elizabeth I's 16th century "intelligencers", used it on his seal. At the bottom of the crest is our motto: "Regnum Defende", meaning "Defend the Realm".