Prince William (born 4th November 1650, died 8th March 1702) was the son of William Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary, eldest daughter of Charles I. Prince William married the Princess Mary, eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, afterwards James II., and Anne Hyde. The Prince of Orange deposed his father-in-law James II., in 1689, and was declared king in his stead. William and Mary were, however, joint sovereigns, and the crowns, sceptres, and orbs were all doubled for them, and on the Great Seal they are both represented, one hand of each resting on the orb.
Queen Mary died in 1694, and after that date King William reigned alone. The same coat-of-arms was used all through, but during the double reign the initials "WR" and "MR" are generally added. It is curious to note that William III. several times altered the place of the coat-of-arms of France on the English coat.
WILLIAM IV., KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Arms.—Within the Garter and with the collar and badge of the order. Quarterly.
1st and 4th, England.
2nd, Scotland.
3rd, Ireland.
And on an escutcheon of pretence, ensigned with the Royal Crown of Hanover, the arms of the Dominions in Germany, as used by George III. (q.v.) after 1816.