Queen Elizabeth II in 2020
(Picture: PA)There are 185 companies in London which hold a Royal Warrant - but what happens to them now the Queen has died?
A Royal Warrant of Appointment is the document that appoints a company or individual in a trading capacity to the Royal Household: essentially, they get to serve the monarch and their family and staff.
Normally a Royal Warrant is granted for up to five years and reviewed in the year before it is due to expire so that a decision can be made as to whether it should be renewed.
But when the person who has granted the Royal Warrant - in this case, the Queen - dies, the Royal Warrant becomes void and the company or individual has two years to drop the use of the Royal Arms in connection with their business.
They will then have to reapply to continue supplying the Royals for another five years in the usual way.
It is unclear whether businesses holding Royal Warrants issued by the HRH the Prince of Wales – such as Cartier, electronics retailer Richer Sounds, and Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard – will also have their warrants voided, following Prince Charles’ ascension to King.
Here are some of the best known London businesses with a Royal Warrant:
Burberry
British luxury brand Burberry has an appointment to the late Queen as weatherproofers, which given Her Majesty’s love of the outdoors, has surely come in handy over the years.
Established in 1856, Thomas Burberry invented the weatherproof fabric gabardine to protect explorers from the elements, creating the foundation for the iconic Burberry trench coat that remains core to the business today.
Charbonnel et Walker
Charbonnel et Walker are purveyors of quality chocolates and truffles, established in 1875 on London’s Bond Street. Apparently encouraged by King Edward VII (then The Prince of Wales), Mme Charbonnel and Mrs. Walker created the company, selling fancy chocolates in beautiful boxes.
Now, the company holds a warrant as the Queen’s chocolate manufacturers.
Fortnum & Mason
Her Majesty reportedly used to buy more than a thousand of Fortnum’s Christmas puddings to hand out to staff during the festive season, and the upmarket food shop has long been linked with the Royal family.
Founded in Piccadilly in 1707, Fortnum’s is the Queen’s grocers and provision merchant.
Heinz
One of the UK’s most loved and trusted brands, Heinz has been a staple on British dinner tables - even in the Royal palaces - for 150 years.
First sold in Fortnum & Mason, the company’s soups, sauces, beans and pasta are part of the national diet, and the company holds a Royal Warrant to provide its products to the Royal household.
John Lewis
With a flagship shop on Oxford Street, John Lewis is one of London’s best-loved department stores. The brand, which is synonymous with British values, has a Royal Warrant to supply the Queen and her household with haberdashery and household goods.
Incidentally, Selfridges also holds a Royal Warrant.
Mappin & Webb
A number of London jewellers hold a Royal Warrant, including Mappin & Webb. First opened in Sheffield in 1775 with a mission to create the most beautifully crafted silverware for English high society, Mappin & Webb now acts as jewellers, goldsmiths and silversmiths to the Royal household.
Paxton & Whitfield
Britain’s oldest cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield also holds a Royal Warrant to provide cheese to the Queen and the wider Royal household. It prides itself on sourcing and maturing the very best cheeses from well-known and up-and-coming artisan producers from across Britain and Europe.
Spink & Son
Established in 1666, Spink and Son are manufacturers of insignia, state gifts and medallions, using jewels and noble materials. The company also refurbishes and mounts orders, decorations and medals for both wear and display, and are also HM The Queen’s official philatelists.
The Goring
Victoria hotel The Goring is the only hotel to have been granted a Royal Warrant by HM The Queen, and is also London’s last family-owned five-star hotel. In recently years, it famously housed Kate Middleton on the night before her wedding to Prince William, now the Prince of Wales.
Twinings
There’s almost nothing more British than a cup of tea, and so it seems right that the Queen had her own tea and coffee merchant. Twinings, which has been around for more than 300 years, was first granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1837, and has served every successive monarch since then.
