Royal Crest


 * Not to be confused with the Hylian Crest.

The is a common depiction or engraving of the Triforce above a bird symbol introduced in Ocarina of Time. As its name implies, it serves as the official crest of the Royal Family of Hyrule and can be found in several places throughout the kingdom of Hyrule, specifically in Hyrule Castle. It can be also be found on walls, banners and Castle Guard uniforms. Contrary to popular belief, this crest does not appear on Princess Zelda's dress: it is actually the Hylian Crest.

Since the Goddess Hylia's crest was in the shape of a bird and the people of Skyloft rode giant birds, the Royal Family Crest incorporates both a bird and the Triforce, which is the basis of Hyrule's providence.

Appearances
In Ocarina of Time, the Royal Crest makes several appearances throughout the game. It can be found on the Castle Guard uniforms, above the drawbridge leading to the Market, on the tombstone of the Royal Family's Tomb, and in the Castle Courtyard. By The Wind Waker, the crest can be seen atop the gates of Hyrule Castle, below the statue of the Hero of Time, around the walls of Hyrule Castle, and used in Rauru's stained-glass window. They also appear in certain rooms that contain a Triforce Chart, such as the one in the Islet of Steel. A giant Royal Crest is depicted in the boss room of the Wind Temple.

In The Minish Cap, a similar crest appears above the bell in Castle Town. The Royal Crest is more prevalent in Twilight Princess, appearing on banners, doors, and other engravings in Hyrule Castle and on the uniforms of the Castle Guards. It is predominately displayed all over Hyrule Castle Town, with the most obvious design being in the fountain of the Central Square. It also appears in the designs of various doors as well on several flags found throughout Castle Town and near the town's entrance. In the Gerudo Desert, a partially broken Royal Crest can be seen at the entrance of the Arbiter's Grounds.

A variation of this crest appears in Spirit Tracks, but substituting a Force Gem for the Triforce in its design. It is visible on the front of the Spirit Train as well as on Anjean. This modified crest appears to be the national symbol of the "new Hyrule" to distinguish it from the ancient one destroyed during the Great Flood. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the Royal Crest in Spirit Tracks is replaced by a symbol of two pirate swords, which can be found throughout Hyrule Castle. This can most likely be attributed to Tetra, who was a pirate and founded the new kingdom of Hyrule.

The Royal Crest also serves as the main image of the Skyward Sword logo shown at E3 2010.