College of Arms issues rules for managing coats of arms in same-sex marriages

If you believe that God has imbued your blood with special zoomph, thus ennobling you, and you marry someone of the same sex, the College of Arms has you covered!

(1) A man who contracts a same-sex marriage may impale the arms of his husband with his own on a shield or banner but should bear his own crest rather than the crests of both parties. The coat of arms of each party to the marriage will be distinguishable (1) by the arms of the individual concerned being placed on the dexter side of the shield or banner and (2) by the crest (when included). When one of the parties to the marriage dies, the survivor may continue to bear the combined arms on a shield or banner.

(2) A woman who contracts a same-sex marriage may bear arms on a shield or banner, impaling the arms of her wife with her own or (in cases where the other party is an heraldic heiress) placing the arms of her wife in pretence. The coat of arms of each party to the marriage will be distinguishable by the arms of the individual concerned being placed on the dexter side of the shield or banner (or displayed as the principal arms in cases where the other party is an heraldic heiress whose arms are borne in pretence). When one of the parties to the marriage dies, the survivor may bear the combined arms on a lozenge or banner.


The Arms of Individuals in Same-Sex Marriages
[King of Arms/College of Arms]

(Image: Coat of Arms of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Sodacan, CC-BY-SA)


(via Making Light)