Meghan Markle has been the Duchess of Sussex for an entire week now, can you believe it? A mere year ago, she was Rachel Zane from Suits, and now she's veritable royalty - and for all intents and purposes - a princesses in my mind.
The nuptials, naturally, incited all sorts of debate. There were the people who slammed Meghan's dress - Givenchy by way of Clare Waight Keller - for being too simple - something that Katy Perry contentiously corroborated. And then there were those that paid more attention to all the controversy regarding Meghan's extended family: namely that her father was unable to walk her down the aisle, and that her step brother and sister apparently did all they could to make the event as stressful for her as possible.
But regardless, it's clear that Meghan is getting stuck into her new role. In fact, on Friday, Kensington Palace released Meghan Markle's own royal coat of arms, which according to the palace was a collaboration between the erstwhile actress and the College of Arms.
"A Coat of Arms has been created for The Duchess of Sussex," Kensington Palace wrote on Twitter.
Naturally, the breakdown of Meghan's Coat of Arms is super detailed, and includes a colourful nod to her home state, California.
"The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of The Duchess's home state. The three quills represent communication and the power of words," Kensington Palace explained.
"Beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California's state flower, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace.
It is customary for Supporters of the shield to be assigned to Members of the Royal Family, and for wives of Members of the Royal Family to have one of their husband’s Supporters and one relating to themselves. The Supporter relating to The Duchess of Sussex is a songbird with wings elevated as if flying and an open beak, which with the quill represents the power of communication.
A Coronet has also been assigned to The Duchess of Sussex. It is the Coronet laid down by a Royal Warrant of 1917 for the sons and daughters of the Heir Apparent. It is composed of two crosses patée, four fleurs-de-lys and two strawberry leaves.
The arms of a married woman are shown with those of her husband and the technical term is that they are impaled, meaning placed side by side in the same shield."
And it got the approval of someone important. The Garter King of Arms, Thomas Woodcock, has since asserted "The Duchess of Sussex took a great interest in the design. Good heraldic design is nearly always simple and the Arms of The Duchess of Sussex stand well beside the historic beauty of the quartered British Royal Arms."
Well, congratulations are certainly in order for the new duchess: first a prince, and now her very own Coat of Arms!