• Creating a coat of arms has become a new luxury symbol.
• Heraldic symbols have been a thing among nobility since the Middle Ages, with many existing coats of arms dating back centuries. But more wealthy people outside of Europe are now looking to create their own new coat of arms to put on yachts or personal stationery.
• Interest in heraldic symbols has risen along with the popularity of genealogy tracing and TV shows like "Game of Thrones."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The most consistent thing about wealthy people (and in particular, newly wealthy people) remains their tendency to want to be seen and recognized as such.

Perhaps this is why, as Tom Ball of The Times UK reports, the demand for new coat of arms designs has skyrocketed in the past few years. Experts believe that the rising interest in obtaining a personalized heraldic symbol of one's very own may have to do with the increasing popularity of genealogy tests, as well as dynasty-focused TV shows like "Game of Thrones," Ball writes. 

Most of the new interest comes from wealthy people in America, the Middle East, and East Asia, according to design and printing company Downey. A representative for the company told Ball that its commissions for new coats of arms have doubled in the past five years, with international customers now making up 40% of commissions —  up from 20% in the years prior. 

"American clients especially seem to want an emblem, almost logo design, for their family that can be passed down to future generations," Quentin Peacock, a heraldic artist, told the Times. 

In the UK, the College of Arms in England and the Court of Lord Lyon regulate who has the right to use a Coat of Arms, which are typically granted to companies or individuals that are in national good-standing, and are British or of British descent. In the US, however, anyone can create and adopt their own coat of arms. 

Leo Turner, a co-owner of Downey, told the Times that most of his clients want their newly-made coat of arms placed on personal stationery or on their yachts. 

But the ultrawealthy don't just want these personalized symbols for their families. Many billionaire business owners are having heraldic symbols made for their companies, according to the Times; for example, Jeff Bezos had a one made for his company, Blue Origin, with the design of two tortoises and a rocket headed to space. 

The surge of interest in coats of arms is just the latest status symbol among the nouveau riche. Recently, Goyard and Bottega Veneta handbags have been all the rage, and amid the pandemic, the most prominent markers of wealth include easy access to quick and personalized healthcare via concierge doctors and the rising use of secluded second-homes as primary residences to escape virus hotspots.

And now, apparently, once borders open back up and yachts can freely dock in Saint-Tropez once again, you can be sure to spot a coat of arms (or two) among the vessels there. 

SEE ALSO: How luxury suitcase company Zero Halliburton is dealing with a world without travel: Deepening its ecommerce efforts and increasing its philanthropic footprint

DON'T MISS: 5 ways to throw a posh virtual cocktail and dinner party, from the owner of the 'Downton Abbey' castle

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: July 15 is Tax Day — here's what it's like to do your own taxes for the very first time

From Elizabeth Taylor lounging around in the French Riviera, to actress Sophia Loren posing with a picturesque ocean backdrop, it is a truth universally acknowledged that any celebrity in possession of fame and fortune, must be pictured aboard a yacht in Saint-Tropez.

But celebrities aren't the only ones who love cruising through the Mediterranean.

Politicians, kings, and queens have also been spotted sailing in style around the world. For example, the British royal family used to take frequent vacations aboard their former charter, Royal Yacht Britannia, and even actress Grace Kelly was photographed on a yacht with fiancé Prince Rainier III of Monaco days before their wedding.

Yachting has always been associated not just with Hollywood jet-setters but also the world's most powerful elite. 

Here are a few vintage photos of some very famous faces lounging aboard some very big yachts.

SEE ALSO: Lexus just revealed the pricing for its first-ever luxury yacht — and a fully-loaded model will cost $4.85 million. Here's a closer look at LY 650.

DON'T MISS: This $12 million 'mansion yacht' is made entirely of stainless steel — and it's a first for the industry. Take a peek inside.

Charlie Chaplin (far right) and his third wife (second from right), Paulette Goddard, on the yacht Invader to Catalina Island in 1934 with fellow actors Franklyn Ardell and Norma Shearer.

Source:Getty Images

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall on a yacht circa 1955, two years before his death.

Source:Getty Images

Prince Rainier III of Monaco and his fiancee Grace Kelly on the yacht Deo Juvante II in 1956, days before their wedding ceremony.

Source:Getty Images

President Dwight. D. Eisenhower with the president of Mexico, Adolfo Lopez Mateo, aboard the Mexican presidential yacht during a visit in 1959.

Source:Getty Images

John F. Kennedy on the presidential yacht in 1961 with Harold MacMillan.

Source:Getty Images

Jackie Kennedy Onassis, then the first lady of the US, on the presidential motor yacht Honey Fitz in 1963 with her daughter, Caroline.

Source:Getty Images

Actress Sophia Loren on a yacht in 1965.

Source:Getty Images

Frank Sinatra with Mia Farrow aboard the yacht Southern Breeze in 1965, a year before they got married.

Source:Getty Images

The Rolling Stones cruise along New York Harbor in 1966.

Source:Getty Images

Actress Elizabeth Taylor on her yacht moored on the river Thames in 1969.

Source:Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales, on a yacht of Spain's King Juan Carlos I in 1990.

Source: Getty Images

After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey aired this week, some might dismiss their dramatic testimonies as trivial nonsense fueled by gossip. The reality is much more complex. The issues raised in the interview strike at the heart of Britain's constitutional monarchy and how Britons want to be governed.

To an audience of 17 million in the US and millions more in Britain, the couple spoke of their struggles with the royal family over the past few years. The pair have polarized discourse over the royal family, and many have called for the monarchy to be abolished. In the interview, accusations of racism and neglect within the institution of the royal family arose, but neither issue should be viewed as an impetus for the abolition of a monarchy dating back more than 1,200 years.

Markle and Harry came across at times as tone-deaf, courting headlines while Harry's grandfather receives treatment in a London hospital, and complaining of financial struggles during a pandemic which has left millions out of work and destroyed countless lives. 

Other parts of the interview were clumsy. Markle falsely claimed that the couple married three days before the royal wedding in 2018 and made misleading comments about the nature of their firstborn son Archie's title.

But these were all minor details in comparison to the blows dealt to the royal family throughout the interview. However, this wasn't the first time the institution has come under fire. Scandals like this one rarely leave a permanent stain. The constitutional monarchy, under which Britain and over 50 Commonwealth countries continue to live, will endure. But if they are to do so successfully, evolution is necessary. The interview made that much clear.

Accusations of neglect and racism

Markle spoke of her mental health struggles during her brief period as an active working royal. In the interview, we learned that it grew progressively worse. She echoed the sentiments expressed by Princess Diana during a BBC Panorama interview in 1995: loneliness and a lack of support from the royal family.

Markle's struggle, however, was far more vulnerable. She admitted to having been suicidal while she carried her firstborn to term. She claimed that she was denied help when she sought it at the Palace. Questions of who she went to and who knew of her mental state are not clear, but the negligence shown to her in a time of need struck a sympathetic chord with many American viewers. The charge is all the more damaging given the number of mental health initiatives championed by the royals, including a 2017 campaign which urged Britons to speak out and seek help for their mental health problems.

Accusations of racism amongst the royals dealt a second, more serious blow. There were "conversations and concerns" held by a senior royal regarding the darkness of Archie's skin while Markle was pregnant with him. While it has been confirmed that neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Prince Philip were the royals in question, it is still concerning for a family, which is supposed to represent not only a multicultural Britain but Commonwealth countries all over the world, to be making such abhorrent comments. Their unspoken maxim 'never complain, never explain' becomes strained when someone does speak out against racism they have experienced. It leads the public to question if the monarchy has done enough for race relations in the UK.

More calls to abolish the monarchy

As a result of the interview, debate over the continuing relevance of the monarchy has been reignited. The hashtag #abolishthemonarchy was quick to trend on Twitter. This isn't the first time the hashtag cropped up, and it likely won't be the last. The royal family are more resistant to the perils of 'cancel culture' than celebrities.

Republic, a lobby group campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy, hopes to use this opportunity to renew a national debate on the matter. It is likely to be short-lived. The group started up in 1983 and has still yet to gain enough traction for any significant moves towards a British republic. Their popularity spikes in times of crisis, like the prorogation of parliament in 2019, only for it to die back down again shortly afterwards. There simply isn't enough of a public appetite for such a momentous change in the way we are governed. 

In these moments, it is evident that social media is not reflective of an entire nation. The polling that emerged after the interview suggested that 47% of people felt that Markle and Harry's interview was inappropriate. This isn't to say that senior royals were acquitted of the accusations they faced, however — the same poll asked respondents how much sympathy they felt for senior royals and  45% of respondents said they felt little or no sympathy for them. 

Racism and neglect are serious charges which need addressing – but abolishing the monarchy is not the way to do that.

Our constitutional monarchy is not something to throw away.

During Queen Elizabeth's reign, the monarchy has provided stability for the country in times of deep political division. Her role as the head of state is to rise above such matters. She is an important figurehead who millions look to for comfort. Such solid foundations are grounded in her deeply principled nature and commendable commitment to public duty. During the Second World War, she became the first and only female member of the royal family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member. The commitment to her country has been unwavering since.

Her sense of public duty extends to helping not only British subjects, but members of the Commonwealth too. Home to almost one-third of the world's population, members benefit from support for development and coordination for international goals. She hailed togetherness during her Commonwealth Day address this year, particularly for healthcare workers across the Commonwealth responding to the pandemic.

The soft power wielded by the monarchy remains powerful. Members of the royal family carefully craft their image and restrict how often they comment on public matters. The monarchy acts as a strength whereby moments of intervention are all the more effective. This year, the Queen's decision to publicly support vaccine efforts sent a calming message to the public. Her positive and assured tone creates comfort in times of great uncertainty.

Disposing of the monarchy is a wildly disproportionate response to what we have seen. The scandal did, however, highlight that the Palace needs to be more pragmatic. A small step in the right direction would be improved mental health provision for all those involved in Palace life.

The greatest challenge the monarchy will face in the future is its ability to command respect and dignity in the aftermath of the Queen's passing. Admiration for her remains unshakable across Britain and the Commonwealth. In order to keep the monarchy relevant, her successor will have to maintain that admiration, which will be no small task. The Palace must adapt to these new challenges and change with the times.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why some Coca-Cola bottles have a yellow cap

When Hannah Mendoza was nine years old, she had an idea: a smoothie bar for kids. 

She set up shop in her home economics class and organized a group of classmates to help sell her creations. It was something she loved, Mendoza told Insider. She didn't know it would foreshadow the business she would one day run.  

Today, Mendoza, 29, is CEO and cofounder of two-year-old Clevr Blends, a company that sells instant, "SuperLattes," infused with "superfoods" like mushrooms and probiotics, which help with digestion. Priced at $28 a bag (each bag makes around 14 lattes), the company told Insider it saw a substantial increase in sales last year and is expecting the trajectory to continue throughout 2021. 

On Tuesday, it launched its latest product, a Rose Cacao mix, infused with calming herbs.

Instant coffee has a bad reputation, Mendoza said. However, in her view, it works for next-gen consumers who are always on the go. By marketing her instant coffee as a healthy form of self-care, Mendoza is attempting to tap into the intersection of the billion-dollar coffee market and the trillion-dollar wellness industry. It seems to be working: Meghan Markle invested an undisclosed amount last year and Oprah posted about the brand on Instagram. Overall, packaged coffee sales rose during the pandemic, Bloomberg reported.

In an interview with Insider, Mendoza reveals the steps her company is taking to remake instant coffee's reputation and connect with young consumers, including making sure the brand's actions match its ethos of empowerment and investing in a sustainable supply chain. 

Spotting an intersection of two thriving markets

The global instant coffee market hit $12.1 billion last year, while the global wellness market was estimated at over $4.4 trillion in 2019. Mendoza saw the chance to tap into both by making a coffee and tea alternative that has less sugar and uses an organic mushroom-infused latte mix instead of just coffee beans.

"I would love to be in a position where I can squeeze my own nut milk and blend up an elaborate drink, but that's not the case and I know that's not the case for a lot of people," she continued. 

It took one year and "thousands" of iterations for Mendoza to settle on a recipe, she said. The result is now five different instant latte mixes, each infused with ingredients such as lion's mane, a mushroom that helps improve memory, and ashwagandha, a root that helps reduce stress.

Young consumers, especially, seek to support brands that match their eco-conscious and social values, and Mendoza says it's important for her brand to "put the money where its mouth is." 

That's why the company strives to be transparent about its supply chain, touts its mostly female and non-binary team, and donates 1% of its revenue to charity. 

"If there are 20 different types of matcha, we ask, 'which one tastes the best, which one has the best transparent supply chain?" she said, adding, for example, the company sources matcha from Japan and buys turmeric from Diaspora Co., a company specializing in equitable spice trading, located in Oakland. 

Clevr Blends also sources cocoa from a regenerative farm in the Ecuadorian rainforests, where farmers manage their lands to make the soil richly bio-diverse. This helps contribute to natural carbon mitigation, and the practice has been a growing trend as brands pivot toward becoming more environmentally friendly. 

Knowing your customers intimately is key 

In its early days, the Clevr Blends team took the time to meet with customers to garner feedback on how the products made them feel. 

Daisy Pyo, a graphic designer based in Brooklyn, discovered the brand on Instagram, where its photos feature soothing pinks, yellows, and greens, waves crashing at the beach, and selfies of people sipping their instant lattes. Pyo told Insider she loves that the powders already contain adaptogens and probiotics so she can skip taking additional supplements in the morning.

"I really enjoy the ritualistic aspect of starting my day with making matcha in the mornings," Pyo said. "It's also just really tasty, so I see it as my little 'pick-me-up.' I feel good about incorporating it into my daily routine because I know it's good for me." 

One high-profile customer turned out to be Markle, as Fortune reported, who found the brand after trying one of its instant lattes and became attracted to its ethical ingredients, community-focused business model, as well as the fact the company is female-led. Fortune reported that after news of the investment spread, the company had a month-long waitlist. 

Working at a start-up was useful training for running her own

Mendoza always wanted to open her own business. 

Growing up outside of London, she decided to move to California, without knowing a soul, after seeing an article about Emma Watson applying to school in the US.

Mendoza figured she'd give it a try, and went on to attend the University of California, Santa Barbra, where she studied applied psychology, global studies, and entrepreneurship. 

Her first job was at food startup Imlak'esh Organics, where she learned the importance of organic farming, fostering healthy company culture, and how to be comfortable with the unknown.

It doesn't hurt to take chances, either. 

For instance, Clevr Blends is primarily e-commerce but is sold in one store — Erewhon Market in Los Angeles. A friend of Mendoza's had a meeting set up with Erewhon buyers for his own product but believed in Clevr Blends so much, he snuck Mendoza and her cofounder into his own buyers' meeting. 

The buyers were skeptical at first but eventually fell in love with Clevr Blends. The same way Markle did, and Oprah, and all those kids at Mendoza's elementary school. "It was an incredibly rough year for everyone," Mendoza said. "But if what we've created made people's mornings even ten percent easier — I'm really grateful for that." 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How the 1999 Russian apartment bombings led to Putin's rise to power