King Charles and Queen Camilla have issued almost 400 companies with royal warrants ahead of Christmas.
Royal warrants are awarded to suppliers of goods to the royal household and senior members of the royal family.
The latest batch includes a diverse range of companies, from heritage craft makers, to clothing suppliers, the royal rat catcher and Queen Camilla’s hairdresser. It also includes a swathe of food, drink and household goods brands.
John Lewis has been awarded a royal warrant for the first time as an official supplier of household goods and furnishings.
A couple of its stores have previously held individual warrants. For example, its Oxford Street and Reading stores were awarded warrants by Queen Elizabeth II, while Peter Jones previously held a warrant for the late Queen mother, the Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, when he was Prince of Wales.
“It’s a proud moment to be recognised by His Majesty with his royal warrant,” said John Lewis executive director Peter Ruis.
“For 160 years, we’ve been focused on offering excellent customer service and the highest-quality products, and the royal warrant is testament to the hard work of partners across John Lewis and our suppliers.”
Renewed warrants
King Charles has also awarded warrants to 386 companies which previously held the warrant for his late mother Queen Elizabeth II. These include fmcg companies like Bacardí-Martini, official “suppliers of Martini Vermouth”, Kellogg’s for cereals, and McIlhenny as the official supplier of Tabasco hot sauce.
Tiptree jam maker Wilkin & Sons, Ryvita, smoked salmon supplier John Ross and ham producer DukesHill have also had their warrants renewed by the King.
The Wilkin family has been farming at Tiptree, Essex, since 1757, and making preserves there since 1885.
Wilkin & Sons received its first royal warrant from George V in 1911, with each subsequent monarch awarding it with one since.
“We are honoured and proud that His Majesty has granted us his warrant,” said Wilkin & Sons chairman Walter Scott.
“Every member of staff understands the importance of this and we are delighted to continue this tradition.”
Ryvita, meanwhile, will celebrate its 100th birthday next year, which made the honour “even more significant”, according to the brand.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Ryvita’s royal warrant has been renewed by His Majesty King Charles III,” said Ryvita marketing director Vicky Cojeen.
“It has been an honour to serve the royal household since the reign of King George VI, and this recognition is continued proof of our commitment to making high-quality, delicious crispbreads which are loved by customers from all walks of life.”
John Ross previously held the royal warrant for Queen Elizabeth II for 30 years.
It was “a true honour to continue this tradition in service to The King”, said John Ross CEO Christopher Leigh.
“This recognition inspires us to remain at the forefront of our craft, honouring the heritage and excellence that has come to define John Ross.”
DukesHill was first bestowed a Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for its production of traditional artisan hams.
“We are incredibly proud and truly honoured to receive the royal warrant from His Majesty the King,” said DukesHill’s CEO Mark Gallagher.
“As an artisan ham producer focused on working with the very best British farmers, this prestigious accolade further solidifies our faith in the importance of championing true artisan craftsmanship.
“As we approach our 40th anniversary, it is wonderful for our team to be acknowledged for our unwavering dedication to quality, provenance and welfare.”
King Charles dished out his first tranche of royal warrants in May, with Waitrose, Fortnum & Mason and Twinings making the list, along with wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, Cornish vineyard Camel Valley and cheesemaker Charles Martell.
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