Their ancestors include carpenters and coalminers a world away from the nobility.

But yesterday Kate Middleton’s family were awarded their own coat of arms.

Although royal bride-to-be Kate was entitled to apply for a heraldic design in her own right, it was her father, Michael, who actually entered the petition.

This gives his entire family – including his other children, Pippa and James, as well as wife Carole – the right to use the emblem.

Garter Principal King of Arms and Senior Herald in England, Thomas Woodcock unveils the new Coat of Arms for Kate Middleton's family

Kate Middleton's new coat of arms was unveiled yesterday, left, and it will appear on the back of the souvenir programme while William's will be on the front

The design is simple, with three leafy acorns representing each of the couple’s three children – an idea suggested by Kate herself.

Kate's family has eclipsed so many of their poorer...

Acorns were chosen for the analogy that they grow into great oaks. Oak is also a symbol of England and strength, and West Berkshire, where the children were brought up, has many oak trees.

Most eye-catching is the gold chevron in the centre of the design representing Kate’s mother, Carole, 56, at the heart of her family. The colour is a reference to her maiden name, Goldsmith.

The late Peter Gwynn-Jones, a former Garter King of Arms, once said: 'In practice, eligibility depends upon holding a civil or military commission, a sound university degree or professional qualification, or having achieved some measure of distinction in a field beneficial to society as a whole.'

However, that doesn't mean that just anybody can pay the fee and get a coat of arms. The cumulative knowledge of the Earl Marshal gathered over hundreds of years has given them the skill of tactfully suggesting that people don't proceed with their application.

The arms are given for free while the money people pay is for the research and design of the coat of arms.

The College of Arms, a branch of the Royal household, is the official body in the UK that deals with coats of arms and their team of experts - funded by the fees they charge and not taxpayers money - design and research heraldic or genealogical issues.

Their use declined in competition and battle but they became more widely used in society.

Coats of Arms came into being during medieval tournaments like jousting when knights would be recognised by the motifs on their shields or helmets and heralds quickly learnt the different ones in use, taking up responsibility for the control of their use.

HOW DO YOU GET A COAT OF ARMS?

The cover sheet of the souvenir Royal Wedding programme

The two thin white chevronels on either side allude to mountains and the family’s love of skiing and outdoor pursuits.

The background colours of red and blue were chosen as they are the principle colours from the flag of the United Kingdom and match Prince William’s recently revised coat of arms.

The College of Arms likes to include a pun wherever possible and has made the two colours meet squarely in the centre as a play on the words ‘middle tone’.

WHO CAN USE THE NEW CREST?

If another person were to use the Middleton crest without prior permission, they could find themselves before the Court of Chivalry - a court that has sat once in the last 279 years.

The only judge in the court is the Earl Marshall and was last convened in 1954 when Manchester City Council complained that the Manchester Palace theatre had used its crest. The council asked the theatre to stop using the coat of arms, but it refused and the court ruled in the council's favour. When the case came forward there was a lengthy discussion about whether or not the court still existed.

As head of the family, Mr Middleton will use a coat of arms in the traditional shape of a shield whereas Kate, as an unmarried woman, has hers presented in the form of a ‘lozenge’ with a distinctive scalloped edge.

Thomas Woodcock, the College of Arms Garter Principal King of Arms and Senior Herald, sat down with Kate’s parents to create the design, which cost £4,400, shortly after Christmas.

He revealed that the Middletons had all been involved in the process and were keen to find a design that ‘visually identified them as a family’.

He said: ‘They had a very strong idea of what they wanted, particularly the acorns, which were Catherine’s idea.’



The design can be used by the Middletons howsoever they wish and if someone else uses it they can sue them at the Court of Chivalry which, apart from a case in 1954, hasn't been convened since 1732.



He added: 'It's not compulsory but as their daughter is marrying into the Royal Family she will have a need probably to use a coat of arms.'

He added that Miss Middleton could have been granted her own heraldic design but her father commissioned the College in his name so all the family could use it.

Mr Woodcock added: 'The idea is that great trees grow from small acorns and the part of Berkshire in which the Middletons brought up their children there are a great many oak trees so it's something they associate with the upbringing of their children.

Sketch: The coat of arms reflects many aspects of the life of the Middleton family

Three acorns: Kate came up with the idea to have her sister, Pippa, and brother, James reflected in the crest Michael Middleton commissioned the crest, reportedly costing £4,400

'And in the centre you have what is known as a chevron and that has been made gold as Catherine Middleton's mother's maiden name was Goldsmith - so that's a suitable reference to her in the centre of the family.'

A version of the coat and arms which can only be used by Kate or her sister Pippa, as it denotes a Middleton spinster, will be printed on the back of the souvenir programme while William's will be on the front.

The booklet will include the wedding order of service and be available on the day of the nuptials.

Joke: Party Pieces paper cup with acorn design

Kate's heraldic design features a tied ribbon to show she is an unmarried woman and the overall shape is an elaborate lozenge - a shield would be used for Middleton men.

But Kate will only be able to use the coat of arms on letter headings and other items up until her wedding day on April 29.

Following the Westminster Abbey ceremony, the coat of arms of William and his fiancee will be combined - something known as 'impaled arms'.

Looking at the shield, the Prince's heraldic design will fill the left hand side and Kate's will be on the right.

Mr Woodcock added: 'With any new design of a coat of arms you have to make sure that the design is distinct not just in colour but in the linear appearance and as there is a 16th century coat of arms with a chevron between three sprigs of oak we've made the differences - dividing the background colours.'

Red and blue were chosen as the Garter Principal knew Kate's coat of arms would have to be combined with William's, which feature the same shades, and the colours needed to complement each other.

Kate's brother James will be able to pass down the coat of arms to his children but Pippa, as a woman, will not but she can use it during her lifetime.

The formal legal document granting Mr Middleton his coat of arms is written on vellum parchment decorated by a herald painter with the text written by a scrivener.

Acorns also feature on a joke coat of arms emblazoned on paper plates and cups sold by Carole and Mike Middleton’s Party Pieces website.