Kate Middleton's family has had a coat of arms designed, which will be featured on the souvenir royal wedding programme. Her father Michael commissioned the heraldic design to mark his daughter's marriage to Prince William on 29 April. It features three acorn sprigs, one for each of the Middletons' children: an idea Miss Middleton suggested.
An video on the BBC web site shows the new coat of arms as Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms, explains the meaning of the various items shown. You can see the video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13127145
As always, coats of arms are issued to individuals, not to families. This coat of arms is authorized for use by Kate Middleton, not by everyone named Middleton. Her father is authorized to use essentially the same coat of arms except, as a male, he would use a more traditional design featuring a crest. As an unmarried daughter, Kate Middleton uses the "lozenge" design shown here suspended from a ribbon.
My thanks to Harry Ross for telling me about this video.
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