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When King Charles got visibly upset over a leaking fountain pen just days after his mother’s death, bosses at Parker may well have thought they would have to say goodbye to their royal warrant.
But it emerged this month that the monarch has renewed it, allowing the world-famous British pen manufacturer to breathe a sigh of relief.
Queen Camilla, who is known to enjoy a tipple, recently appointed seven prestigious royal warrant holders, including Cornwall-based sparkling wine producer Camel Valley.
There are currently more than 800 royal warrant holders, from individual craftsmen to global corporations.
But as we outline below, some recipients – both past and present – are more obvious royal family favourites than others.
Broomsticks
The Nash family has been making broomsticks, besom brooms and pea sticks for around 300 years.
Their longstanding commitment to the trade was recognised when they gained the Queen’s seal of approval in 1999.
As royal broomsquire, Bradley Nash supplied the Queen’s household with around 120 besoms per year from his workshop in the village of Tadley in Hampshire.
He told the Telegraph: ‘My father could put a broom together in about 10 minutes. It takes me a little longer, though I still use his tools, which are over 100 years old.’
Nash’s brooms have also appeared in films such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the firm appeared on Blue Peter in 1992.
Sadly, the firm did not feature on this year’s warrant holder list, which was released this month.
Bradley Nash’s father Arthur seen at work in 1999. He was previously royal broomsquire to the Queen
The firm appeared on Blue Peter in 1992. The company does not feature on this year’s royal warrant list
Hats
Founded in 1676, Lock & Co is the oldest hat shop in the world and are responsible for the original design of the bowler hat.
Lock & Co have held the seal of approval since 1956 and currently serve as hatter to the King.
The prestigious hatmaker formerly had a royal warrant from Prince Phillip until his death in 2021.
The firm also features on this year’s warrant holder list.
Lock & Co (pictured) have held the seal of approval since 1956 and currently serve as hatter to the King
The royal warrants on display at the world’s oldest hat shop Lock & Co
Raymond Parker, shop assistant at Lock Co, shows off a bowler hat in the firm’s shop on St James Street, 1986
Lock & Co’s shopfront in the 19th century. The firm was founded in 1676 and is still going strong
Robes
Thought to be the oldest tailor in the world, Ede and Ravenscroft are best known for supplying robes to the Royal Family.
They have produced garments for 12 British coronations since they were founded in 1689.
They made the purple silk velvet Robe of Estate that Queen Elizabeth II wore for her Coronation in 1953. It was 21feet long and weighed 15 pounds.
For King Charles’ Coronation last year, His Majesty wore the robe that was made for King George VI when he was crowned in 1937.
Ede and Ravenscroft made the purple silk velvet Robe of Estate that Queen Elizabeth II wore for her Coronation in 1953. It was 21feet long and weighed 15 pounds
For King Charles’ Coronation last year, His Majesty wore the robe that was made for King George VI when he was crowned in 1937
It was conserved by Ede and Ravenscroft in preparation for use by His Majesty.
The firm also made the mantle worn by Charles at his investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969.
The firm also supplies academic gowns to both Oxford and Cambridge students.
They also supply court attire for judges and lawyers, including wigs.
The company holds royal warrants as robe makers to King Charles and previously to the Queen and the Queen Mother.
Ede and Ravenscroft also made the mantle worn by Charles at his investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969
The mantle for Prince Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales, seen at Ede & Ravenscroft London robe makers
Thought to be the oldest tailor in the world, Ede and Ravenscroft have a store in Westminster (pictured) and supply academic gowns to both Oxford and Cambridge students
The royal warrant outside the Ede and Ravenscroft store in Westminster
Guns
James Purdey & Sons specialise in high-end bespoke sporting shotguns and rifles.
The business received its first royal warrant in 1868 from the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
Queen Victoria granted a royal warrant to the firm a decade later, after purchasing multiple guns and rifles from the business.
The company also own the Purdey Shooting School where a one-hour lesson costs £115.
The firm again features on the latest list from this month.
King Charles III in 1973 carrying a shotgun by James Purdey & Sons
The royal warrant outside James Purdey & Sons in London
Shirt makers
Turnbull & Asser have been supplying illustrious men, both real and fictional, with bespoke shirts since 1885.
From Sir Winston Churchill to James Bond, their shirts are made using Italian fabric and mother-of-pearl buttons.
When King Charles was granted the power of bestowing royal warrants by his mother in 1980, the shirtmaker was among the first firms to benefit.
Among the many garments the company has crafted, Turnbull & Asser created the shirt worn by His Majesty at his Coronation in 2023.
The firm’s royal warrant was renewed this year.
King Charles wearing a Turnbull & Asser shirt as he poses in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, March 2023
Among the many garments the company has crafted, Turnbull & Asser created the shirt worn by His Majesty at his Coronation in 2023
Charles, then the Prince of Wales, speaks with Turnbull & Asser’s managing director during a tour of the firm’s factory in 2013
Charles helps out at the Turnbull & Asser factory during a tour in 2013
Customers wait outside the Turnbull & Asser store for the post-Christmas sale
James Bond star Sean Connery being fitted for a shirt at Turnbull & Asser in the 1960s
Homeopathic pharmacy
Ainsworth Pharmacy, who make traditional herbal and flower remedies to ‘help promote positive feelings and deal with emotional ailments’, were honored with a royal warrant in 1980.
Their Bach Fast Asleep product contains cherry plum and white chestnut, designed to relieve the user from ‘repetitive, spiralling thoughts’ when sprayed on the tongue before bed.
The pharmacy previously came under fire for selling tablets which are often promoted by other homeopaths as vaccine alternatives for diseases including measles, polio and meningitis.
The King is a known advocate of alternative therapies such as homeopathy, but it is unknown whether they have played a role in his cancer recovery.
Ainsworth’s’ royal warrant was renewed again this year.
Drawers containing homeopathic remedies at Ainsworth Pharmacy in London
Glove makers
Dents, established in 1771, provides handmade leather gloves to the royal family.
The company, who has been responsible for crafting the coronation gloves for multiple royals, was awarded the royal warrant in 1841.
The glove made by Dents for King George VI was worn again by King Charles III at his Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 2023.
The monarch decided to re-use it due to his commitment to sustainability.
Dents’ royal warrant was renewed again this year.
Camilla attempts to cut glove patterns at Dents factory in 2015
Robert Yentob, the then managing director of Dents Gloves, holds up a glove worn by Queen Elizabeth I at her coronoation in 1558, May 2012
Flags
Flying Colours, a flagmakers based in Yorkshire, received a royal warrant in 2007.
The company, which was only established in 2000, made the flag which adorned the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in 2022.
The Royal Standard of Scotland flag was ordered a year before the Queen’s death without the fittings necessary for it to be hoisted on to a flag pole, meaning it was ordered as a coffin drape.
A Union flag made by the company and measuring 38 feet is regularly flown from Windsor Castle.
The firm did not make the warrant list this year.
Andy Ormond, the managing director at Flying Colours flagmakers, making Union flags for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022
Her Majesty’s oak coffin in Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral covered by the flag made by Flying Colours
Christmas crackers
Tom Smith, suppliers of Christmas crackers and wrapping paper, received the royal warrant in 1964.
The London-based company invented the iconic Christmas cracker ‘almost by accident’ when confectioner Tom Smith made a bonbon.
The sugar-almond wrapped in paper had a twist at both ends but this design later evolved when Smith replaced the nut with a gift and added the exploding mechanism to the packaging.
The firm does not feature in this year’s royal warrant list.
Women pictured packing Christmas crackers in a Tom Smith factory
Moving service
Founded in Norfolk, Abels is a removal and storage service which gained the royal warrant in 1988.
They specialise in moving antiques and specialist items such as pianos and grandfather clocks – niche skills which will have proved useful when they started working for the royal household in 1981.
That year, they moved royal wedding gifts from Kensington Palace to Highgrove after Prince Charles and Princess Diana married in St Paul’s Cathedral.
The firm does not feature
Abels is a removal and storage service which gained the royal warrant in 1988
The removal firm Abels of Watton take the Royal wedding gifts from Kensington Palace to Highgrove after the Charles’ and Diana’s wedding in 1981
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