Hidden details in the England badge revealed including little-known reason why there are three lions on crest

England have been wearing the iconic Three Lions badge on their shirt for more than 150 years, but do you know the reason why?

England played Scotland in the first ever international football match all the way back in 1872, with the historic game ending goalless.

England played with the Three Lions on their kit that day and it has been a symbol of the national side ever since – even becoming the subject of a famous song by Baddiel and Skinner and the Lightning Seeds.

But England were simply using the same crest that had been adopted by the Football Association when it was formed in 1863.

While England supporters will be familiar with the badge, not many are likely to know the reason why there are three lions on the crest.

Meanwhile, there is another hidden detail in the badge that most are unlikely to have spotted.

According to The Sun, each of the three lions has a different meaning.

The first represents King Henry I, who ruled the country from 1100 to his death in 1135 and was widely known as the Lion of England.

Following his coronation, the King added a lion to the Royal Arms of England.

When he got married to Adeliza of Louvain in 1121, he demanded a second lion was added to the Royal Arms to honour his father-in-law, Godfrey I, Count of Louvain.

The third lion wasn't added until 1154, when King Henry II - grandson of Henry I - married Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Henry II implemented it to honour his wife as she also had a lion on her family crest.

Eagle-eyed England supporters may have also noticed there are 10 roses included on the badge.

England have wearing wearing the Three Lions crest for more than 150 years (Image: Getty)

These Tudor roses are the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and take their name from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York after the War of the Roses (1455-1487).

The 10 roses were later introduced to the England badge in 1948-49 to represent the 10 divisions of Football Association members at the time.

England will wear the iconic badge when they debut their new Euro 2024 kit in a friendly against Brazil on Saturday evening.

There has been controversy over the new kit and a redesign of the St George's cross, which features on the collar of the kit.

Instead of a typical red design, the cross also features navy, blue and purple. The change prompted criticism from some football fans, with users on X branding it 'disrespectful' and 'insulting'.

England will debut their new kit against Brazil on Saturday (Image: Getty)

Despite calls for the kit to be altered, the FA have confirmed it has no plans to recall the new strip.

"The new England 2024 Home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup winning team," read an official statement.

"The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England's 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar. It is not the first time that different coloured St George's cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.

"We are very proud of the red and white St George's cross – the England flag. We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow – as it always is – when England play Brazil."