The Royal Warrant Holders Association

[gilmore]

I came across the site of the Royal Warrant Holders Association
http://www.royalwarrant.org/ that may be of interest to some.

Tradesmen in everything from agricultural equipment to transportation and vehicles are there.

"The Royal Warrant Holders Association represents individuals and firms with Royal Warrants of Appointment.

Royal Warrants are a mark of recognition to individuals or companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales. Warrants have always been regarded as demonstrating excellence and quality, and are highly prized.

There are around 850 Royal Warrant Holders representing a huge cross-section of trade and industry. They range from traditional craftspeople to global and multinational firms operating at the cutting edge of technology.

Warrants are granted to named individuals – Grantees – who must personally ensure the Warrant is used correctly. Warrant Holders may display the relevant Royal Arms and the legend ‘By Appointment’ on their products, premises, stationery, vehicles and advertising.

Whatever their size or specialisation Warrant Holders are united by their commitment to the highest standards of service and excellence."

"...Three members of the Royal Family currently grant Warrants, as did Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. They are known as the Grantors. They are:

HM The Queen, who has two Royal Arms, one used in Scotland.
The Prince of Wales, who also holds the title of Duke of Rothesay in Scotland
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh..."


"...Warrants are granted, usually for five years, to a named individual, who must be an executive director or partner. This person - the Grantee - is personally responsible for ensuring the Warrant is used correctly.

Warrant holders may display the relevant Royal Arms with the words ‘By Appointment’ on their stationery, buildings, vehicles, advertising and packaging. There are strict rules on using and displaying the Royal Arms.

At present around 850 firms hold Royal Warrants of Appointment. They represent the widest cross-section of British trade and industry (there are a small number of overseas firms)...."


"...it was Queen Victoria who ensured Royal Warrants gained the prestige they enjoy today. During her 64 year reign the Queen and her family granted more than 2000 Royal Warrants, eight times as many as the Queen’s uncle, George IV. They included companies such as Fortnum & Mason, Schweppes, and Twinings, which still hold Warrants today.

...From the early 19th century, Royal Tradesmen held an annual dinner to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday. When they gathered on 25 May 1840 for Queen Victoria’s birthday they decided to form ‘The Royal Tradesmen’s Association’. It began with just 25 members but numbers rose steadily. In those days it was an exclusively male organisation, although if ‘a lady or firm of ladies’ held a Royal Warrant they could ‘appoint a gentleman to represent them.’ "

It seems that only one maker of highland dress holds a royal warrant:

KINLOCH ANDERSON LTD
Tailors and Kiltmakers
Grantor HM The Queen - Privy Purse
HRH The Prince of Wales
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Telephone 0131 555 1390
Website www.kinlochanderson.com
Email enquiries@kinlochanderson.com

and is, I believe, one of only seven of the 850 or so warrant holders to hold warrants from all three of the grantors: the Queen, the Prince of Wales/Duke of Rothesay, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Pringle of Scotland, Ltd is listed as a manufacturer of knitted garments.

It appears none of the Gold Brothers firms are listed.

There are two Scots branches, the Aberdeen Association of Royal Warrant Holders and the Edinburgh Association of Royal Warrant Holders. I found websites for neither.

[Monkey@Arms]

Certainly is an extensive list. My favorite so far:

Mole Controller by appointment of the Queen. (Found under Pest Control.) Followed by "Animal Pregnancy Scanning." ditto.

Best regards,

Jake

[JSFMACLJR]

My tailor, Meyer & Mortimer, of Sackville Street, London, specialize in bespoke Highland Dress, and are holders of a Royal Warrant as "Military Outfitters."

[Hamish]

The holding of a Royal Warrant is a mark of the very high quality of the product or service provided by a company and, interestingly, the holder named on the Warrant is not the Company but an individual (usually the Managing Director) within that Company.

The company for which I was severally General Manager and Export Director for the last 32 years of my working life - J. Floris Ltd. - holds Royal Warrants to H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. One of my responsibilities was to 'look after' the Royal accounts which meant I was privileged to meet Her Majesty, Prince Charles and Princess Diana many times, often advising them of new fragrances and assisting them with the selection of Christmas gifts. I attended three Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and several receptions (and a Christmas Party) at Kensington Palace. If I have any regrets at having retired, they can only be that I no longer have the honour of such wonderful and unique experiences - but I have the memories!

Take care,
Ham.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe that when I was with Wilkinson Sword we held the distinction of holding the most Royal Warrants: Her Majesty; Her Majesty the Queen Mother; His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh; His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales; and in unbroken succession, the Royal Warrants of every reigning sovereign since George III as well as numerous Royal and Imperial warrants from the monarchs of other countries.

[Tartan Hiker]

Fascinating. This is why I love this forum so much!

[tulloch]

I hope it remains a hallmark of distinction and not a marketing tool for earning the crown a bit of scratch. Too late? Hope not!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I hope it remains a hallmark of distinction and not a marketing tool for earning the crown a bit of scratch. Too late? Hope not!

Actually the crown earns nothing from issuing warrants. To even be considered for a warrant a company has to provide the highest standard of goods or services, and has to have supplied the Palace with those goods or services for a period of at least five years. Further, the warrant can be revoked by the Palace at any time, and without citing any reason for withdrawing the warrant.

While it is easy to think in terms of "big companies" (for example Rover Cars), in fact most of the warrant holders are small businesses, and many are tiny, family run, companies.

[Phil]

On my annual fishing pilgrimage to Ballater on Royal Deeside it is always fascinating to see the butcher, the baker and (no sorry not the candlestick maker) the fishing tackle shop all have the various coats of arms above their premises showing their royal appointment. The fishing tackle shop tell me it is a bit of a pain because Prince Charles insists they use ecologically sound paper bags instead of the plastic variety.

[Colonel MacNeal]

I recall that Hyacynth Bucket "bouquet" was very fond of them on Keeping Up Appearances, the viciously funny Britcom.