 When William III, Prince of Orange and King of England, died on 19 March 1702, the king ordered the arms of the principality placed on his shield.This was to support his claim as heir general, although the Frisian branch of the House of Orange-Nassau claimed it as well.In 1708 Frederick announced that he would place the quarters of the dukes of Mecklenburg in the Prussian arms to stress his rights to Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz if their ducal lines were to die out.