Following the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the current Royal Warrants from the late Queen will become void. Companies or individuals will have two years to discontinue the use of the Royal Arms in connection with their businesses.

A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a document allowing a business the right to display the Royal Arms on their product and packaging. Products can also use the following wording: “By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen”.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Rules govern how the Royal Warrant may be displayed on products.

Royal Warrants are only granted to individuals or companies that provide goods or services to the Royal Household and the Monarch decides who is to be a Grantor of the Royal Warrants. 

According to the Royal Warrant Holders Association,  a Warrant is automatically reviewed if the Grantee dies or leaves the business, but in order to be reviewed a business must still qualify for a Royal Warrant by “supplying products or services on a regular and on-going basis” to the Royal Households of Grantor/s for no less than five years out of the past seven.

Reviews pending

It has been announced that 118 food and drink trade bodies will be affected at this moment in time as they are currently Royal Warrant holders.

Food and Drink brands and retailers affected by the changes include Fortnum and Mason, Heinz, Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s.

Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they have an “appropriate” environmental and sustainability policy and action plan.