The brave warrior goddess Britannia has been a symbol of British pride and power for over 2,000 years, often depicted wearing a Corinthian helmet and carrying a shield and spear.

As Britain’s naval strength and global Empire grew during the reign of Queen Victoria, Britannia was frequently portrayed as a strong young woman carrying a nautical trident with echoes of mighty Neptune, ruling the waves.

Then, at the turn of the 20th Century she became a symbol of national mourning, first in 1901 as Britain grieved the death of Queen Victoria and again in 1910 as the nation mourned for her eldest son, Edward VII.