<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1816--1837 </Td> <Td> The arms showing Hanover raised to the status of a kingdom after the Napoleonic wars . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1837--present </Td> <Td> The Hanoverian dynastic arms have been dropped on the accession of Queen Victoria . As Hanover followed the salic law, she could not accede to the throne of Hanover . </Td> </Tr> <P> English heraldry flourished as a working art up to around the 17th century, when it assumed a mainly ceremonial role . The Royal Arms of England continued to embody information relating to English history . Although the Acts of Union 1707 placed England within the Kingdom of Great Britain, prompting new, British Royal Arms, the Royal Arms of England are still used occasionally in an official capacity, and has continued to endure as one of the national symbols of England, and has a variety of active uses . For instance, the coats of arms of both The Football Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board have a design featuring three lions passant, based on the historic Royal Arms of England . In 1997 (and again in 2002), the Royal Mint issued a British one pound (£ 1) coin featuring three lions passant to represent England . To celebrate St George's Day, in 2001, Royal Mail issued first--and second - class postage stamps with the Royal Crest of England (a crowned lion), and the Royal Arms of England (three lions passant) respectively . </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> The Royal Arms of England as depicted on the Kings Arms pub in Blakeney, Norfolk </P> </Li> <Li> <P> A British one pound (£ 1) coin, issued in 1997, featuring three lions passant, representing England . </P> </Li> <Li> <P> A modern, commercially available Royal Banner of England, printed on polyester fabric </P> </Li> <Li> <P> The coat of arms of the Football Association (granted by the College of Arms in 1949), worn by the England national football team, are based on the Royal Arms of England . </P> </Li> <Li> <P> The coat of arms worn by England cricket team, the national football team removed the original crown to distinguish it from the cricket team in 1949 . </P> </Li> </Ul>

Why are there three lions on the english football shirt