The Royal Family has favoured dogs as pets for centuries. Adopted as a heraldic symbol by Edward III, the greyhound symbolises loyalty, honour and celerity. It is said that Henry VIII attached a special importance to the Greyhound of Richmond, since it was a heraldic emblem adopted by both the Lancasters and the Tudors and thus served to emblemise the Tudors’ dynastic right to the throne of England. With a striking appearance, which includes a slim build and protruding ribcage forming an elegant shape, the beast on the Moat Bridge fixes the viewer with an attentive gaze, ears pricked at the ready and alert to honour any given command.