Badge of The Royal Regiment of Canada

Blazon

Gules a coronet of crosses patté and fleurs-de-lis Or jewelled and resting on a band of ermine proper enfiled by three ostrich feathers Argent their tips interlaced with a scroll Azure fimbriated and inscribed ICH DIEN in letters Or, all within a garter Azure fimbriated buckled and inscribed HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE in letters Or between two scrolls Azure inscribed in chief NEC ASPERA TERRENT and in base READY AYE READY in letters Or environed in the flanks by autumnal maple leaves proper, the whole upon a diamond-cut star Or ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and resting upon a scroll Gules fimbriated and inscribed THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF CANADA in letters Or;

Symbolism

The badge is derived from the badges of The Royal Grenadiers and The Toronto Regiment, which were amalgamated in 1936 to form the regiment. The maple leaves represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The star, a customary infantry badge shape from the 19th century, was taken from the badge of The Royal Grenadiers. The garter, with the motto “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE”, is that of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

From The Toronto Regiment was taken the central device. During the Hundred Years’ War, Edward the Black Prince, the first Prince of Wales (eldest son of Edward III), defeated the Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia (eldest son of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII), at the Battle of Crécy. After the battle, the prince adopted the three white ostrich plumes from the crest of his defeated foe as the badge of the heir apparent. He also adopted the dead king’s motto “ICH DIEN” (I serve).

“THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF CANADA” is the regimental title. “NEC ASPERA TERRENT”, from The Toronto Regiment, and “READY AYE READY”, from The Royal Grenadiers, are the mottoes of the regiment. The first motto was taken from their former allied regiment The King’s Regiment, now, through amalgamation, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.