You’re a genius if you can spot the hidden meaning in the England badge including the reason there are three lions
ENGLAND players have been wearing the iconic Three Lions crest for over 150 years.
The England national team is the joint-oldest in the world.
It was founded in 1870 – the same year the Scotland national team was established.
The two sides went head-to-head for the first time in March 1870 in a match organised by the Football Association.
And England officially adopted the Three Lions two years later.
But do you know the hidden meaning behind the crest?
Each of the Three Lions on the badge has a different meaning.
The first represents King Henry I, who was widely known as the Lion of England.
Following his coronation in 1100, the King added a lion to the Royal Arms of England.
And when he got married to Adeliza of Louvain in 1121 he demanded a second Lion was added to the Royal Arms honour his father-in-law, Godfrey I, Count of Louvain.
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The third lion wasn’t added until 1154, when King Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine.
King Henry II implemented it to honour his wife as she had a lion on her family crest.
The current England badge also includes 10 red roses, also known as the Tudor Roses.
The roses were added in honour of the War of the Roses in 1487 and there are 10 to mark the 10 tiers of English football.