The Mayor of London has been officially granted permission to use the historic coat of arms once belonging to the former Greater London Council (GLC), following approval from the King.

The warrant was issued to the Greater London Authority (GLA) last week after Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan submitted a formal petition in February. The decision coincides with the 25th anniversary of the GLA.

The coat of arms features six blue and white waves symbolising the River Thames, topped by a gold Saxon crown on a red background, representing both London’s early origins and the historic county of Middlesex. It was originally granted to the GLC in October 1966 but fell into disuse after the council was abolished in 1986.

A spokesperson for the GLA said the decision marked “an important moment as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the GLA” and recognised “the significant history of devolved government in the capital”.

County Hall in Lambeth, which once served as the headquarters of the GLC and still displays the coat of arms, is now used as a cultural venue.

The GLC was dissolved under the Local Government Act 1985 following repeated political clashes between its leader, Ken Livingstone, and then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. When the GLA was established in 2000, it did not apply for its own coat of arms.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all applications for coats of arms are managed by the College of Arms, with any major decision requiring approval from the monarch.

The revival of the GLC’s coat of arms was first proposed in 2020 by former London Assembly member Tom Copley, with cross-party support from Conservative Assembly member Tony Arbour. Mr Copley, now London’s deputy mayor for housing, said on social media that the decision was “a wonderful 25th anniversary gift for the GLA”.