ENGLAND’S iconic badge features three leopards rather than lions, claim historians.
The national team has long been known as the Three Lions and that nickname was further immortalised by the 1996 track by Baddiel and Skinner.
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England traditionally wear the Three Lions on their chest Credit: Getty
Harry Kane wore the iconic crest against New Zealand last night Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Scholars over at the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester, however, say that not all is at it seems.
They told the Daily Star: “Technically the ‘lions’ are actually leopards!
“In medieval heraldry – and this includes the lions on the England team shirt – lions that are lying down are called leopards, and ones rearing or rampant are called lions.
“Three leopards on a shirt… doesn’t work quite as well does it?”
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Phillip Bone from the College of Arms added: “Since the medieval period, ‘lions’ rather than ‘leopards’ has been the correct way to describe these beasts in this posture, and when the FA was granted the Arms in 1949 the term ‘Lions passant guardant’ was used.
“The shirts worn by the England team use the Arms of the FA rather than the Arms of England, and so it is correct to talk of ‘three lions on the shirt’ rather than three leopards.”
England stars wore the Three Lions, or leopards, on their chests as they defeated New Zealand 1-0 last night.
Skipper Harry Kane broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time by heading home Djed Spence‘s pinpoint cross.
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Harry Kane wears the Three Lions, or leopards, on his chest Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Thomas Tuchel‘s side will play their final warm-up match against Costa Rica on Wednesday night.
Their World Cup campaign is then set to begin with a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final with Croatia on June 17.
