Supporters
In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, or (more rarely) plants or inanimate objects. This example, the Coat of Arms of Prince Edward Island, uses two foxes as supporters. Supporters are typically an example of special royal favour, granted at the behest of the sovereign. In England, peerss, knights of certain orders, knights banneret (knights knighted on the field of battle by the sovereign or the sovereign's proxy), and proxies of members of the Royal Family are routinely entitled to supporters, while others are not, except by special royal favour. An example of plant supporters are the garb (wheat sheaf) supporters of Boyd-Orr. Letterss of the alphabet very exceptionally figure as supporters, as in the arms of Valencia.
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