Blazoning

When we describe a shield in heraldic terms we blazon it. Here are the simple rules of blazon:

1. Describe the background (field) of the shield.
2. Describe the principal charge placed directly on to the field.
3. Describe the lesser charges on the field.
4. Describe the lesser charges placed on the principal charge.

The shields below are blazoned as follows:

The shield bearing the Royal Arms is quartered, with the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second, and the Irish harp in the third. The blazon of the shield would be:

Quarterly, 1 and 4, gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or; 2, or a lion rampant gules within a double tressure flory-counter-flory gules; 3, azure, a harp or, stringed argent.

The above in ordinary language:

Quartered: in the first and fourth quarters, on a red background, three lions walking and looking out arranged vertically; in the second quarter, on a gold ground, a red lion erect and looking forward in a frame decorated with fleur-de-lis; in the third quarter on a blue ground a gold harp with silver strings.