Crest mix-up leaves Embassy red-faced

Forget fake news. What about fake heraldry?

the British embassy in Washington DC has had to admit that it has been using the wrong coat of arms at official events.

An eagle- eyed watcher noticed that the crest used at a citizenship ceremony hosted by Defence Attache, Major general richard Cripwell, right, did not belong to the Queen but was a coat of arms used by george III, an embarrassing solecism given he was the monarch who went to war with the American colonies.

the Fo tells me: ‘this was an inadvertent error made by a member of staff and the crests are being changed.’

Among the differences is the top right-hand corner of george III’s shield, inset, which features fleurs- de- lis, whereas the Queen’s has a lion rampant. You’d expect embassy staff to be more thorough, surely.