Officer of arms
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An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:to control and initiate armorial matters;
to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state;
to conserve and interpret heraldic and genealogical records.
Kings of arms Timothy Duke and David Vines White in 2022
Banners bearing heraldic badges of several officers of arms at the College of Arms in London
Herald
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A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms.
Pictures of heralds from the 14th–17th century, from H. Ströhl's Heraldischer Atlas
English and Scotish heralds, wearing tabards, in procession during the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla (2023).
Herald Gelre of the Duke of Gueldres (around 1380)
![Bavarian herald Jörg Rugen [de] wearing a tabard of the Coat of arms of Bavaria, around 1510.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/J%C3%B6rg_R%C3%BCgen_%28ca_1510%29.jpg/500px-J%C3%B6rg_R%C3%BCgen_%28ca_1510%29.jpg)
Bavarian herald Jörg Rugen [de] wearing a tabard of the Coat of arms of Bavaria, around 1510.