A number of the Queen’s favourite brands have revealed they hope to continue holding their Royal Warrant status under order of the new monarch, King Charles III.
Food and drink products emblazoned with the Queen’s Royal Arms have, for many years, have shown customers that they have been purchasing items fit for a king and queen. However, when Queen Elizabeth II passed away last week at Balmoral, over 600 Royal Warrants became invalid – affecting more than 100 grocery brands.
A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a document that appoints a company to the Royal household, allowing the holder to use the Royal Arms in connection with their business. Many opt to display it on their packaging and in marketing material.
As a result of the Queen’s death, those firms have two years to drop the use of the Royal Arms, as those warrants are now all void. The move will affect around 118 food and drink brands, as well as key retailers such as Waitrose and Fortnum and Mason.
It is understood these companies will have to reapply for a Royal Warrant from the new monarch, proving they have supplied “products or services on a regular and on-going basis to the Royal Households of grantor/s for not less than five years out of the past seven”.
Heinz, which has been providing the royal households with products since 1955, said it “sincerely hopes to be able to continue doing so for many years to come”.
“However, at this time, our thoughts are with the members of the Royal Family,” a Heinz spokesperson told Grocery Gazette.
“Everyone at Heinz is deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and we offer our sincerest condolences. We are so grateful for the extraordinary service Her Majesty gave to the nation.”
Drinks giant Britvic, which has been a holder of the Royal Warrant since 1955 said: “we are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen”, adding that it “has been proud to serve Her Majesty and pay tribute to her lifetime of public service and commitment”.
Supermarket Waitrose, which previously held a longstanding Warrant with Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen’s Mother, told Grocery Gazette it “remains very proud to have the Royal Warrant from Her Majesty the Queen.”
The high-end supermarket added that there is “nothing required in the short term”, as a Royal Warrant status lasts two years after the death of the granting Member of the Royal Family.
