Windsor herald

Windsor Herald

The heraldic badge of Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Heraldic tradition	Gallo-British
Jurisdiction	England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Governing body	College of Arms

Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.

It has been suggested that the office was instituted specifically for the Order of the Garter in 1348, or that it predates the Order and was in use as early as 1338. However, it is more likely that it dates from 1364, when a pursuivant of Edward III, on bringing the king news of the victory at Auray, was rewarded by promotion to the rank of herald with the title Windsor. Thereafter there is little mention of the office before 1419, when Windsor Herald was sent to the Duke of Brittany. Since that time, the office has been maintained. The badge of office is the sunburst badge of Edward III (Edward of Windsor) royally crowned.

The best-known Windsor Herald was the 17th-century antiquarian, Elias Ashmole. The current Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is William George Hunt, TD, BA (Southampton), FCA.

Brackets indicate a date or approximate date for which there is evidence that the named person was holder of this office. The reigning monarch is given if the date is not known more precisely.