The live broadcast of the State funeral for Queen Elizabeth II has raised a big question: why is there a coat of arms with the four Catalan stripes on the altar of Westminster Abbey in London? The coat of arms could be seen on the live broadcast, and according to the Heraldry Society foundation it is present in one of the British church's aisles because Ramon Berenguer V, Count of Provence, had a coat of arms with the House of Barcelona's four stripes. Besides this coat of arms, eleven more were also depicted.
Many of the coats of arms depicted inside the abbey are related to Henry III of England by blood or marriage, and Berenguer was no exception. He had a family connection with Henry III, the king who had the abbey rebuilt and who decided to place these coats of arms. The former Count of Provence and Count of Forcalguer was father-in-law to Henry III, after the English king married one of his daughters, Eleanor of Provence, in 1234. In fact, you can also see the House of Barcelona's four-striped coat of arms, representing Eleanor of Provence, in the Royal Gallery of Westminster Palace. This room is famous because it is the one the monarch of England crosses before each State Opening of Parliament.
Besides the four-striped coat of arms, Ramon Berenguer V is also related to two other insignia present in Westminster Abbey. As explained by the British Heraldry Society foundation, the coat of arms of Louis IX of France and Richard, Earl of Cornwall, brother of Henry III, both married to other daughters of Berenguer, are represented in the church.
Ramon Berenguer, who died on August 19th, 1245, was the son of Count Alfons II of Provence and Garsenda de Sabran, Countess of Forcalquier. His father died unexpectedly, and he received, at a young age, the title of Count of Provence.