University hosts heraldry event

Heralds will wear colourful tabards during the opening ceremony

An international genealogy conference, described as the biggest gathering of heralds since the middle ages, is to be held at St Andrews University.

About 300 delegates representing 26 countries are expected to attend lectures held throughout the week.

There will be a colourful procession through the town, with heralds in tabards and dignitaries in state dress, at 1600 BST on Monday.

A free heraldic fair will be held on 23 August at the town's Younger Hall.

An exhibition, called Who Do You Think You Are? will be open to the public until 3 September at St Andrews Museum.

It is the first time since 1962 that the bi-annual International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences has been held in Scotland.

This event will be singular and quite unusually memorable given its historic significanc Mark Dennis Organising committee

Edinburgh was the last Scottish host and the patron was the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Princess Royal is this year's patron and will open the proceedings.

The event's theme is Myth and Propaganda in Heraldry and Genealogy and there will be 50 lectures on the subject.

An international group of artists is to create a series of heraldic mythical beasts as a conference exhibition.

Mark Dennis, secretary general to the organising committee, said the event had taken four years to plan.

"This event will be singular and quite unusually memorable given its historic significance," he said.

"Contrary to what people might think, heraldry is not a dead subject but is actually a growth industry - for example, more arms have been recorded in the last 50 years than the previous 300 years.

"Also, the law of arms is changing, with more women now in traditionally male-dominated roles being granted or inheriting their own arms.

"It is no longer just a subject of antiquarian interest."