Sir Paul gets own coat of arms

LONDON —  Sir Paul McCartney has been granted his own coat of arms, which pays homage to the former Beatle’s musical career and his hometown of Liverpool, a newspaper reports.

According to the Sunday Times, the crest features a liver -- a fanciful bird that appears on Liverpool’s arms -- holding a guitar in its claw. Four curved emblems resembling beetles’ backs reflect his career with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

The motto is “Ecce Cor Meum,” Latin for “Behold My Heart,” which is the title of an oratorio he composed.

The Sunday Times said McCartney applied for the crest in 1997, the year he was knighted for his contribution to British music and society, but the death of his first wife, Linda, in 1998 delayed its design and approval. The coat of arms was granted by the College of Arms, the English heraldic body formed in 1484, the newspaper said.