By Royal Appointment

Michael Montagu traces the history of royal warrants

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Take a stroll along some of the best streets in London and look above shop doorways. There you will often see one or more brightly coloured coats of arms. Places like Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, DR Harris & Co on St James's Street, Lock & Co Hatters, also on St James's Street (and the oldest hat shop in the world, founded in 1676), Wartski on Bond Street, and Anderson & Sheppard on Old Burlington Street all have these highly prized – indeed coveted - shields.

But go further away from London and you will find one on a deli and vegetable shop in Ballater, Aberdeenshire. You will find one on a scaffolding company in King's Lynn, Norfolk, a cheesemaker at Dymock, Gloucestershire and a linen supplier in Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan. In total, more than 800 organisations nationwide, and 19 overseas, are members of this exclusive circle.

The shields are coats of arms of the members of the royal family who award their warrant to companies and individuals who supply goods and services to their households and are often regarded as a sign of excellence. The current grantors of warrants are King Charles III and Queen Camilla, with the Prince of Wales due to grant his first warrants during 2025. Holders of previous warrants from, for example, her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh, are allowed to display their coat of arms for two years. This seemingly isn't always strictly policed. I recall, in the 1970s, seeing the arms of Queen Mary displayed on Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, central London with the wording "by appointment to the late Queen Mary". Queen Mary died in 1953.