College of Arms

The College of Arms is a body corporate forming part of the royal household incorporated by charter that exercises the royal prerogative in the granting and regulating of armorial bearings in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and those Commonwealth realms where the Queen is head of State without their own heraldic authorities.

The building
The College occupies a building in Queen Victoria Street in the City of London. They have been on this site since 1555. Parts of the present building date to 1670 (the original college having been destroyed in the Great Fire of London), although most dates from the eighteenth century. When Queen Victoria Street was created in 1866 part of the college was demolished with the remainder remodelled.