They are ancient symbols of purity
The unicorn was first used on the Scottish royal coat of arms by William I in the 12th Century. In the 15th Century, when King James III was in power, gold coins even appeared with the unicorn on them.
When Scotland and England unified under the reign of James VI of Scotland in 1603, the Scottish Royal Arms had two unicorns supporting a shield.
When James VI became James I of England and Ireland, he replaced the unicorn on the left of the shield with the national animal of England, the lion, to show the countries were united.
HM Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms Liam Devlin said: “There are so many portrayals of the unicorn.
“It’s mentioned in translations of the Bible, there are links to feminism, ancient Greek, there are references in many medieval books about unicorns dipping their horns into wells and pools of water and being symbols of purity and chastity.
“And it’s up there with the rainbow as a symbol for gay rights. But it has been a symbol for Scotland for a long time.
“The unicorn has been in the National Beast of Scotland since the 1420s.
“James I was imprisoned as a child in Windsor Castle by English kings. He later fell in love with Joan Beaufort and married her and because her badge was the unicorn, it was incorporated into the Scottish
Coat of Arms.”