The King has granted permission for the Mayor of London to revive the historic coat of arms once used by its predecessor.
The coat of arms, once a familiar emblem across the capital, was originally granted to the GLC in 1966.
However, following the council’s abolition in 1986, its use was temporarily suspended. When the Greater London Authority (GLA) was created in 2000, it did not initially apply for a coat of arms.
That changed in February this year, when Sadiq Khan submitted a petition requesting permission to use it.
Approval has now been granted by the King, in what has been dubbed a “wonderful 25th anniversary gift for the GLA”.
A spokesperson for the GLA said the decision marked "an important moment as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the GLA" and "recognised the important history of devolved government in the capital".
The coat of arms depicts six blue and white waves representing London’s place on the River Thames, as well as a gold Saxon crown on a red background, which represents the city’s Saxon origins and the historic county of Middlesex.
To create a coat of arms, authorities must apply to the College of Arms, which manages matters of heraldry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Any major decision made by the college must be announced by the King.
The idea of reviving the GLC’s coat of arms was first proposed by former London Assembly member Tom Copley in 2000.
Mr Copley, who is now deputy mayor for housing, said on X that the decision was a “wonderful 25th anniversary gift for the GLA”.
