Sarah's personal Coat of Arms is thought to have been assigned to her father, Major Ronald Ferguson prior to her wedding. It features a bee on top of a three-headed Thistle plant set in a green, grassy Mound. At the time, there was talk that it represented industry, etc. Actually, it is based on the family Coat of Arms of the Scottish Ferguson Clan. The Shield itself carries 3 Boar's Heads but Sarah's Shield is identical with the Clan's Crest (the element of a Coat of Arms which goes on top of the Helmet, as shown right). She uses her father's Motto, which is EX ADVERSIS FELICITAS CRESCIT, Latin for From adversity grows happiness, which some might think ironic, seeing as The Duke and Duchess of York went on to get divorced!
The main picture at the top was created in 1986 by celebrated artist Jeffrey Matthews and shows Sarah's Coat of Arms as a single woman. This can be identified in two ways. Firstly, the Shield is Lozenge-shaped, the convention for a woman. Secondly, there is a bow of ribbon, usually but not necessarily always pink, at the top of the Shield. Additionally, there are no Coronets or Supporters, which means she was a Commoner, i.e. one of the ordinary or common people, as opposed to the aristocracy or to royalty, before her marriage.
The choice of device has actually proved quite favourable with regard to the heraldry of their two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, as shown previously and below.
(This has been discussed in a previous Blog. Please click here.)
The second image shows the combined Arms of TRH The Duke and Duchess of York as a couple.
(You do not need to point out the the representations here actually show a wasp instead of a bee...)
It is unsure what Coat of Arms Sarah uses, if any, since the divorce now that she has had to drop the title HRH. It is difficult to use her sister-in-law, Diana, as a precedent because Diana was not a commoner before marriage and was if not exactly entitled to show her Arms with her father's Supporters, her post-divorce Arms were matriculated by the College of Arms. (Please click here for my Blog on Diana's Coats of Arms.) I am not aware of what Crest Major Ferguson was assigned which might replace the original bow of ribbon for an unmarried women. Any information would be gratefully received.