Big Ben

Above the bell tower and the Aryton Light are 52 shields decorated with the symbols of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales).

An excerpt from the article 22 facts about Big Ben
  • A red and white rose representing the Tudor dynasty
  • Thistle signifying Scotland
  • The shamrock representing Northern Ireland
  • Leek meaning Wales

They also feature: a garnet by Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of the Tudor king Henry VIII, a portcullis - symbolizing both houses of parliament, and a fleur-de-lis (lily) - a legacy of the times when English monarchs claimed to rule France.