Heraldic Arms of Queens' College

These arms are those of the first foundress Queen, Margaret of Anjou, which she derived from those of her father René, Duke of Anjou, with the addition of a green border for the College. The six quarters of these arms represent the six lordships (either actual or titular) which he claimed.

Quarterly of six:

1. Barry of eight argent and gules (for Hungary);
2. Azure semy of fleurs-de-lis or, a label of three points gules (for Anjou Ancient or Naples);
3. Argent, a cross potent between four crosses crosslet potent or (for Jerusalem);
4. Azure semy of fleurs-de-lis or, a bordure gules (for Anjou Modern);
5. Azure semy of crosses crosslet fitchy, two barbels haurient addorsed or (for Bar);
6. Or, on a bend gules three alerions displayed argent (for Lorraine);

all within a bordure vert.

The green border appears to be intended as a difference for Queens' College.

These arms are of interest because the third quarter (Jerusalem) uses gold on silver, a combination which is extremely rare in heraldry. The cross potent is a visual pun on the letters H and I, the first two letters of Hierusalem.

There is plenty of historical evidence for the label being red in the second quarter, although being on another colour (blue), it offends against practice in English heraldry.

These are not truly arms of the College, but, rather, a badge.

Sable a cross and crozier in saltire or surmounted by a boar's head argent.

The silver boar's head was the badge of King Richard III of England. Richard's wife Anne Neville was the third Queen consort to be patroness of the College.

An inventory of the college silver taken in 1544 records:

Item antiquum sigillum argenteum ex dono Ricardi scdi R. Anglie insculptum porcellis seu apris.

Item: an ancient silver seal given by Richard the Second, King of England, engraved with a little pig or boar.

Here, the abbreviation scdi for Secundi (Second) is clearly a mistake for tertii (Third). The seal does not survive.

This is the earliest evidence for the College's use of a boar's head symbol.

The gold cross stands for St Margaret, and the gold crozier for St Bernard, the two patron saints of Queens' College. There is also a somewhat far-fetched suggestion that the saltire arrangement of these (like the St Andrew's Cross) is an allusion to Andrew Dokett, founder (in fact if not in name) and first President of Queens'.

Today, this badge is widely used by College Clubs, and also appears in connection with food or dining.

Queens' College scarves are green with two white stripes. When made to the traditional colours, the green in Queens' College scarves is darker than the green in Girton College scarves. For the scarves of other colleges, click here.

For the scarves of various College Clubs, click here.

The blades of Queens' College Boat Club are green with one white stripe. The men row in kit which is white with green trim. The women row in kit which is green with white trim (or is that just coincidence?). For the blades of other colleges, click here.

Sports kit for Queens' generally displays some combination of green and white, a colour combination which is unique at Cambridge. However, an almost identical colour scheme is used by Jesus College Oxford, with whom we have no connection.

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