After 600 years, Denmark removes the Three Crowns from its coat of arms

Denmark has dropped the Three Crowns, a national symbol of Sweden since the 14th century, from its own coat of arms.

In Denmark, the Three Crowns symbolises the union between Sweden, Denmark and Norway, a union that was dissolved in 1523 — and Denmark's decision to continue using the symbol afterwards was once a point of conflict.

Historian Harald Gustafsson says the move can be interpreted as a symbol of peace, and as a way of "cleansing" the Danish coat of arms of historical remains.