Grocery retailers Waitrose and Fortnum & Mason have received Royal Warrants from His Majesty King Charles III.

Fortnum & Mason has been granted two Royal Warrants – one from the King and one from Queen Camilla – the first time the luxury retailer has received a new Warrant in 28 years and one of the first to be awarded by King Charles since his ascent to the throne in 2022.

It is understood the warrants will be granted directly to chairman Kate Hobhouse who will continue to personally oversee their use across the business.

Chief executive Tom Athron took to social media to say he was ‘thrilled’ at the awards and thanked the retailer’s team for their support.

“I was utterly thrilled to be told on Friday that Fortnum & Mason had been granted two Royal Warrants, one from His Majesty The King and one from Her Majesty The Queen. To receive a Royal Warrant in 2024 is a big deal.

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“We are required to demonstrate a rigorous focus on acting for a sustainable future, supporting the country’s rural and farming communities and protecting the arts and heritage crafts, all things that are very close to our hearts at Fortnum’s.

“We are far from perfect on all these issues, but we do have a plan that is central to our decision making, and grounded in the firm belief that these issues are now super-important to our customers.

Waitrose has also received the Royal Warrant of Appointment to be grocers and wine and spirit merchants to the King – the only Royal Warrant that can be granted to a supermarket.

The Royal Warrant can only be bestowed as a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly supplied the Royal Household for a period of at least five years.

Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “We are honoured and proud that His Majesty has granted us his Warrant. It means the world to all of us, and our farmers and suppliers.

“There couldn’t be a more powerful symbol of our commitment to service and quality, and our determination to have the highest environmental and animal welfare standards.”

“Committed to delivering excellent service to the communities which we serve, Waitrose also strives to deliver the highest environmental and animal welfare standards, as well as treating the farmers and suppliers we work with fairly.”

Waitrose’ latest Warrant follows in the wake of those awarded by the late Queen in 2022 and by King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, in 2010.

The supermarket was first awarded a Royal Warrant in 1928 for supplying King George V for groceries and cleaning materials.