bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Peter Neville-Hadley

Before the name of your tailor, the make and model of your car, or the size of your superyacht mattered, and before logo-laden handbags or even old school ties, the status symbol for the seriously superior European was the coat of arms. Nobility of birth is no longer required. Nobility of spirit is more important.
In the later Middle Ages, heraldic symbols identified knights in battle, their property, and the members of their private armies, eventually becoming part of a pan-European system of courtly ceremony. In the 15th century, Richard III incorporated the English heralds, who organised such matters, and installed them in the College of Arms. They ensured that heraldic symbols were unique, officially approved and registered, designed according to specific rules, and were only displayed by those properly entitled to them.
Modern applicants find these gatekeepers of gentility residing in the nearly 350-year-old College of Arms in the City of London, almost in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral and just across the Thames from the modern reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The heralds have actually been on this site since 1555, well before Shakespeare's time.

The atmosphere inside the weathered red-brick building of 1666 is instantly recognisable to anyone educated at a British public school. Sober portraits of previous heralds gaze down from wood-panelled walls, and creaking staircases with rooms to either side are reminiscent of older Oxford colleges.
The library is home to 7,000 bound volumes of manuscripts dating as far back as the 11th century, mostly genealogies and heraldic reference works called "ordinaries". Records of individual grants of arms date back over five centuries, and are still hand-painted and lettered. Records are still retrieved using index cards, with not a scanner or computer in sight.
Grantees still receive painted scrolls of calf-skin vellum depicting their arms in bright colours, also bedecked with the coats of sovereign and senior heralds, and hung with seals. Blazon, the language used on them to describe the arms granted, is derived from 11th-century French, at that time the language of the English elites.

There are few institutions more redolent of tradition, but Peter O'Donoghue, the York Herald, whose job title has existed since at least 1484, insists that the success of heraldry is due to its adaptability. "One of the reasons it has kept going for the last seven or eight hundred years is that it has proved to be a very simple and flexible system which can express different things to different people at different times."
In the days of knights and jousting tournaments, "having a coat of arms was a way of saying that you were a member of that high elite, and that gave coats of arms a great power as symbols of status", O'Donoghue says.
Modern brands still often adopt shields as logos in an attempt to convey exclusivity.
But part of heraldry's flexibility, he points out, is in how it has responded to social change, and to the redistribution of prestige and influence over time. In the early 18th century, people began to choose heraldic designs that reflected the story of their lives, and today's applicants often wish to mark some significant personal achievement, and to create an identity to pass on to their children.

"What we do is grant coats of arms to people who are of a certain eminence in the community," O'Donoghue says. "But it's not a class-based eminence particularly. It's simply a matter of professional qualifications, degrees, respectability, and public and charitable service."
While the heralds' fees must be met, to be rich is neither required nor sufficient to obtain a grant.
Applicants begin by submitting a CV, and if they prove suitable, submit a formal petition to the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, whose warrant is necessary for the Kings of Arms - the senior heralds - to make the grant.
There's no requirement to visit the college, but a face-to-face interview presents the best opportunity for applicants to discover the vocabulary of heraldic design and to express their own wishes.

The look of heraldry has also adapted itself over time from original simple forms meant to be easily recognisable at a distance, through periods of greater complexity, and influence from modern graphic design.
The choice of items to be placed on the shield has expanded from traditional heraldic beasts and medieval weapons to include film strips and the double helix strands of DNA, for those with relevant occupations.
"The same criteria apply to everything," O'Donoghue explains. "Is it going to be simple and clear and intelligible in the future?"
The College of Arms thinks in centuries. Long after the Rolls-Royce has rusted, the successful software start-up has been superseded, and the property portfolio's bubble has burst, there will be permanent evidence - inscribed by hand on top-quality acid-free paper, beautifully bound and kept in a centuries-old London library - that your life was more than brash and hasty novelty, and you were indeed someone of substance.
 
MADE FOR HONG KONG
Heraldry's adaptability has included the adoption of beasts from alien bestiaries, enabling Hong Kong-based institutions and individuals to obtain grants of arms with local flavour.

The arms of the University of Hong Kong feature Chinese text on an open book, and have a Chinese dragon as a supporter, while those of the Chinese University of Hong Kong feature a Chinese phoenix, and are supported by twin qilin.
Hong Kong residents who are also British citizens can petition for arms that represent their home and achievements.
Standard grants to private citizens include shield and crest, with the option to add a heraldic badge and banner.
Hong Kong barrister Daniel Hui's recent grant borrows qilin from the arms of Sir Robert Hotung, an ancestor on the maternal side. His badge (pictured right) features a version of the RAF's kestrel to reflect time spent with the air force's Royal Squadron, and more subtly reflects his current occupation: one of the plants in the cornucopia carried by the kestrel is lawyer vine.
 


Heraldry has changed with the times - a coat of arms is for those who have distinguished themselves or contributed to society

The Coat of Arms of the University of Hong Kong features Chinese text on an open book, and has a Chinese dragon as a supporter.

In the College of Arms' record room, a volume of English heraldry from 1520-30 shows originally simple symbols in increasingly complex combinations.

BELOW

RIGHT

LEFT

Records of individual grants of arms dating back over five centuries are kept in the nearly 350-year-old College of Arms in the City of London.

Heraldic artist Fiona Lukes works on one of the letters patent on calfskin vellum which confirms a grant of arms.

The College of Arms is home to more 7,000 bound volumes of manuscripts dating back as far as the 11th century, including genealogies, heraldic reference works, and records of individual grants.

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