the shorter axe reintroduced by royal decree in 1844, when an authorized rendering was instituted for the first time. In 1905 the official design for royal and government arms was again changed, this time reverting to the medieval pattern, with a triangular shield and a more upright lion. The coat of arms of the royal house as well as the Royal Standard uses the lion design from 1905. The earliest preserved depiction of the Royal Standard is on the seal of Duchess Ingebjørg from 1318. The rendering used as the official coat of arms of Norway is slightly different and was last approved by the king 20 May 1992. When used as the royal coat of arms the shield features the insignias of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav around it and is framed by a royal ermine robe, surmounted by the crown of Norway. The royal coat of arms is not used frequently. Instead, the king's monogram is extensively used, for instance in military insignia and on coins. See also Kings of Norway family tree Succession to the Norwegian throne List of Norwegian monarchs Monarchy of Norway References External links The Royal Family and the Royal House of Norway - Official Site of the Norwegian Royal Family (in English) The Royal House of Norway - Official Site of the Royal House of Norway (Entire Site in English) Norwegian monarchy