While watching TV in the bath, (sorry) I learnt that Stilton HAD a royal warrant of appointment by Edward VII, but not any longer because warrants are void after Royal death.
Wow, I thought, what a concept, what a tradition, what a privilege – but like everything, it all has a shelf life even the Queen.
I wish nothing but good for the Queen, she’s all I’ve known and I’m from a family of Royal respecters.
Since watching every single minute of the ‘Windsor’s’ on Netflix, I have even greater admiration and understanding for her Royal Highness, even if she does like her steak over cooked.
But, let’s face facts she ain’t getting any younger and without wanting to be macabre, maybe her majesties got a decade – more or less.
Which means that all those amazing coats of arms on all those amazing food packages will have to disappear, well that’s what I thought – –
Here’s the research – The Royal warrant of appointment has been around for century’s in one form or another. It is given to people, company’s and traders who supply services or for my interest foods, to the Royal Palace (or should I say palaces).
I thought it was just the Queen but in-fact it is the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh & Prince Charles who can warrant a warrant.
Mummy bear, Daddy bear and little bear! And in the old days Goldilocks*.
The practise of granting a charter or patronage has been practised all over Europe since the Medieval days, first granted to the Weavers in 1155 by Henry II.
The Royal warrant set’s a standard, it sends the message, that the product is of a high standard, fabulous enough to be served to the Royal Family – the very top of the tree.
Some warrants have been held for more than 100 years, as they’ve been passed on.
It’s not necessarily that the Royal Family consume the product, it may just be bought for guests of the palace – like Cigarettes, which lost its warrant a while ago for ethical reasons. And it’s not necessarily given to the Royal household, although I’m sure that was the case in the distant past.
The *Queen mother was another permitted royal to decree, but her warrants expired 5 years after her death. Which I believe is the run-down time.
Companies are not automatically granted them, they have to apply via an application form. A product or service have to be used for a minimum of 5 years in the Royal households. The company forward the application form on to the Royal household buyer, they assess and if viable they then pass it on to Lord Chamberlain, the head of the household, who then passes that on to the committee of the 3 appointed Royals to have the final say. The Warrants last for 5 years and are then brought back to panel for review. If a company goes out of business – this will automatically go to review.
Warrants are free – and the trade is purely commercial.
There are around 850 warrant holders, holding more than 1000 warrants. Like Heinz for instance, have several product endorsements (Can we call them endorsements? – is my head safe?)
I’d also like to know why Harrods got struck off the list in 2000!
– – Breaking news, in 2001 (not so breaking) Mohammed Al Fayed the then owner of Harrods burnt the Royal crests on a film, banned in the UK. The documentary was funded by Fayed by 2 million pounds. Allegedly, he was convinced that the death of Princess Diana and his son Dodi was indirectly carried out by the Royal family. He believed the whole thing was a conspiracy. It was Fayed’s decision to not renew, saying it was hypocritical when all 4 Royals at the time (including the Queen Mother) didn’t shop at Harrods. Harrods is now owned by Qatar Investment Authority – RULE BRITANNIA – what next Colmans mustard!!!
What FOOD has got a Royal warrant –
- Angostura – liquor bitters
- Bendricks – Chocolates
- Bollinger – Champagne
- Bacardi & Martini Company
- Britvic – beverages (I wonder if the Queen has Britvic or Schweppes in her Gin?)
- Cadburys – Milk Chocolate (Queen Victoria gave this choc the first appointment, our Queen then granted it again in 69)
- Carluccios – Italian Chain Restaurant
- Fortnum & Mason – jams & pickles
- Greggs – – – Really!!!, the bakery chain!
- Heinz – general (I’m thinking beans!)
- Kellogg’s – Cereal (The Queen likes Special K and Cornflakes, I prefer Crunchy Nut!)
- Maldon – Salt Company
- Nestle – all sorts!
- Schweppes – still beverages
- Tanqueray – Gin
- Taylors of Harrogate – Tea & Coffee (The Princes Tea)
- Tate & Lyle – silver Spoon sugar
- Twining’s – Tea (The Queens Tea)
- Waitrose – The supermarket
- Weetabix – Cereal
- Wilkinson’s & Sons – Tiptree – jams and chutneys
Other Special Worldly Purveyors –
- Belgium – Cote D’Or – ice cream & Godiva
- Japan has Kikkomen – soya sauce
- Austria and Hungary – Bols, Courvoisier
- France – Moet & Chandon, Remy Martin
- Italy – Martini
- Russia – Smirnoff
So, what do the Royal appointments tell us about the Royal’s – we’ll for my ‘what one eats’ blog click here http://www.lovenorwichfood.co.uk/2017/11/06/one-eats-queen/
I think Alcohol & ‘Greggs’ says it all – I googled how far away the nearest Greggs was to Buckingham palace = Victoria Coach Station SW1 – 16 minutes’ walk with the Corgis or 8 minutes in the Bentley (also by Royal appointment – of course, as are Aston Martins, don’t think hoover boards are).
Just out of interest, who do you think I found on the Royal appointment list – – Norwich’s own Bartrum Mowers and Ben Burgess. I go to both, eat Heinz Beans, love a weetabix but admittedly avoid Greggs & think champagnes horrid – I’m practically Royal, if only I likes pasties & Champagne!
By Zena Leech-Calton ©
Image from – https://www.royalwarrant.org