Historians Reveal England's Three Lions Badge Actually Features Leopards
Experts claim England’s famous Three Lions badge actually features three LEOPARDS on stars’ World Cup shirts

Image: The Sun
Historians assert that England's famous Three Lions badge actually depicts three leopards, as per medieval heraldry definitions. Despite the common nickname, the term 'lions' was used by the FA when granted the Arms in 1949. England recently wore this badge in a match against New Zealand.
- 01The badge features three leopards, not lions, according to historians from the King Richard III Visitor Centre.
- 02In medieval heraldry, lying down lions are termed leopards, while rearing ones are called lions.
- 03The Football Association (FA) used the term 'Lions passant guardant' when granted the Arms in 1949.
- 04England's national team wore this badge during their recent match against New Zealand, winning 1-0.
- 05Harry Kane scored the winning goal just before half-time, assisted by Djed Spence.
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Historians from the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester claim that England's iconic Three Lions badge actually features three leopards. This revelation challenges the long-standing nickname of the national team, popularized by the song from 1996. According to these scholars, in medieval heraldry, lions depicted in a lying position are referred to as leopards, while those that are rearing are called lions. Phillip Bone from the College of Arms noted that the term 'lions' has been traditionally used to describe these beasts in this posture. When the Football Association (FA) was granted the Arms in 1949, the phrase 'Lions passant guardant' was employed. Therefore, while the badge may technically depict leopards, it is still appropriate to refer to them as 'three lions' on the team shirts. Recently, England's national team wore this badge during their match against New Zealand, securing a 1-0 victory with Harry Kane scoring the decisive goal just before half-time. The team is set to face Costa Rica in their final warm-up match before starting their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17.
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