Royal warrant of appointment (United Kingdom)

Royal warrants of appointment have been issued since the 15th century to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages.[1] The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, thereby lending prestige to the brand or supplier. In the United Kingdom, grants have usually been made by the monarch, their spouse, and their heir apparent to companies or tradespeople who supply goods and services to individuals in the family.

Suppliers continue to charge for their goods and services – a royal warrant of appointment does not imply that they provide goods and services free of charge. The warrant is typically advertised on billboards or company hoardings in British English, letter-heads and products by displaying the coat of arms or the heraldic badge of the royal personage as appropriate. Underneath the coat of arms will usually appear the phrase "by appointment to..." followed by the title and name of the royal customer, and then what goods are provided. No other details of what is supplied may be given.

History

The granting of royal patronage or royal charter was practised across Europe from the early medieval period. Initially, however, royal patronage was mainly granted to those working in the arts. Royal charters began to replace royal patronage in around the 12th century. The earliest charters were granted to the trade guilds, with the first recorded British royal charter being granted to the Weavers' Company in 1155 by Henry II of England.[3][4]

By the 15th century, the royal warrant of appointment replaced the royal charter in England, providing a more formalised system of recognition. Under a royal warrant, the Lord Chamberlain appointed tradespeople as suppliers to the royal household.[5] The printer William Caxton was one of the first recipients of a royal warrant when he became the king's printer in 1476.[4][6]

Organisation

Warrants are currently granted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.[12]

Warrants issued by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother automatically expired no later than 2007, five years after her death.

Upon the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021, warrants issued in his name became void. However, warrant holders are permitted to continue to use the Royal Arms and the legend after the death of a grantor, usually for up to two years.[13] The same occurred upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II,[14] and upon the Prince of Wales becoming king in September 2022. In May 2024, King Charles III and Queen Camilla granted their first royal warrants of appointment of the new reign.[15] In July 2025, The King announced that from 2026, the Prince and Princess of Wales would be able to issue their own royal warrants.

Former Royal Warrants

Gallery

Examples of royal warrants in use:

See also

• Brand management

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

Hoflieferant

• Royal Warrants at the Royal Family website
• The Royal Warrant Holders Association