Knights of the Thistle

The Order of the Thistle is Scotland's only national order of chivalry. As the Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow, we congratulate the chairman of the organising committee, Lord Smith of Kelvin, shown here with the other new knight, the Earl of Home, invested earlier this month by the Queen.

Lord Smith's coat of arms includes references to the Commonwealth Games and to the Royal Museum of Scotland the board of which he also chaired for many years. 

Palio of Siena

One of the greatest heraldic pageants in the world takes place in Siena on July 2nd and August 16th each year with a wild horse-race round the city's main square - the Campo. Siena is split into 17 contrade each with its own livery and symbol. Ten of the contrade take part in each race - this year (2014) the winner was the "Drago" (the dragon). The race is preceded by a pageant in which the heraldry is displayed.