Why are England called the Three Lions?

"Three lions have been used as England's football emblem since the formation of the Football Association in 1863. England wore the badge in their first official international match against Scotland in 1872 - but the symbol has much deeper roots stretching back to the 12th century. The animal has been associated with the Royal Family since Henry I (1100-1135) included a single lion in his coat of arms."

"He added another after his marriage. His grandson, Henry II (1154-1189) added a third lion to his crest, also after getting married. But it was only after the reign of Henry II's son Richard I (1189-1199) that the three lions were popularised and adopted as the royal arms by every monarch. England's emblem was further cemented into popular culture by the 1996 song 'Three Lions' by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds."

"The coat of arms for the England National team has three blue lions, but it also includes 10 Tudor roses. The reason for the specific amount of roses is unknown. Originally, the crest featured a crown, but this was removed to distinguish it from the England cricket team emblem. The football badge also includes a star above the emblem, representing England winning the 1966 World Cup."

Three lions have been used as England's football emblem since the formation of the Football Association in 1863, with the badge worn in England's first official international match against Scotland in 1872. The motif traces to the 12th century when Henry I used a single lion, Henry II added a third, and Richard I popularised the three-lion royal arms. The England football crest displays three blue lions and ten Tudor roses; the crown was removed to distinguish it from the cricket emblem, and a star marks the 1966 World Cup. The 1996 song 'Three Lions' reinforced the emblem in popular culture. BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything answers fan questions.

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