RSL Australia - Badge Changes

MEDIA RELEASE

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) yesterday approved a change to the RSL Badge to incorporate the Tudor Crown adopted by the League’s Patron, King Charles III.

This updates the Badge, replacing the St Edward’s Crown that marked the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles adopted the Tudor Crown on his accession as Monarch.

The updating of the Badge was endorsed by the RSL’s National Board and approved by members at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting.

Newly elected RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley said the change ensures the RSL remains consistent with Royal protocols and acknowledges His Majesty King Charles III as the Patron of the League. The Australian Defence Force and other Australian Government agencies have also recently undergone similar changes to adopt the Tudor Crown.

“The RSL Badge has undergone a number of changes over its 109-year history particularly to mark the link to its Royal patronage, with the last Badge change in 1990,” Peter Tinley said.

“The new Badge also features changes to the floral emblems. The Australian wattle remains, and a sprig of rosemary and a poppy, the two principal Australian symbols of remembrance of service and sacrifice. replace the previous depictions of leek, rose, thistle and shamrock, representing our connection to the British Isles countries of Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland respectively.

“Rosemary grows wild on the Gallipoli Peninsula and is a symbol of Anzac Day. A poppy is worn on Remembrance Day to honour the sacrifice of those who died in war and other conflicts, a tradition inspired by the red poppies that grew on the devastated Flanders battlefields of World War One. The rosemary and poppy floral symbols have deep, historical significance and a more than century-long historic connection to the military service of Australians.”

Mr Tinley said the RSL was adopting a measured and cost-efficient approach to implementing the badge change.

“In accordance with King Charles’ wishes to avoid unnecessary expenditure, we are using the ‘grandfathering’ principle. The existing RSL badge will remain valid, and the new badge will be introduced progressively to minimise financial and operational disruptions.

“RSL Branches are being encouraged to avoid unnecessary expenditures and employ a staged approach, with digital assets such as letterheads, websites and other electronic communications changing first, and signage, physical badges and merchandise changing gradually as part of routine replacement of assets.

“The RSL badge is an important symbol of the service and comradeship of the League’s members and its work in representing the interests of veterans, and this updating ensures that it is contemporary and in line with current protocols,” Mr Tinley said.

The RSL’s trademark and brand legal rights associated with the badge remain in force.

– ENDS –

For more information contact Tony: media@rsl.org.au