Royal warrant of appointment


Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The royal warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the issuer of the royal warrant; thus lending prestige to the supplier. Royal families of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, and Thailand among others, allow tradesmen to advertise royal patronage.
Suppliers having a royal warrant charge for the goods and services supplied; a royal warrant does not imply that suppliers provide goods or services free of charge. Royal warrants are typically advertised on company hoardings, letter-heads and products by displaying the coat of arms or the heraldic badge of the royal personage issuing the royal warrant. Warrants granted by members of the British royal family usually include the phrase "By Appointment to…" followed by the title and name of the royal customer, and then what goods are provided; no other details of what is supplied may be given.

Purveyors for current households

Australia

Royal warrant holders of the Court of Australia:
In Belgium the title of 'Purveyor to the Court' is granted to businesses who provide services or goods to the royal court.
The list of 'purveyors to the Court' is updated every year. The king himself makes the decision who gets a title or not.
Some of the 'Purveyors to the Court' include:
Purveyors to the Royal Danish Court, though these are being phased out by 2029.

Japan

Purveyors to the Imperial Household Ministry; after World War II, the permission system was abolished, but purveyors still exist today:
High Patronage of the Monaco Royal Family:
In the Netherlands, the status hofleverancier is awarded to small and medium-sized businesses that have existed for at least 100 years which have a good reputation regionally. However, the companies need not actually supply goods to the court. At present there are at least 387 companies that hold this status, which can be renewed every 25 years. Companies designated as hofleverancier are further permitted to display a plaque on their premises attesting to their status.
In addition, certain companies are granted the use of the designation koninklijke. These companies are also allowed to incorporate a crown in their logo. Examples include:
Purveyors to the Royal Court of the Norway: the status 'purveyor to the court' is no longer awarded.
  • Karl August Anderson – photographer
  • Farris – mineral water
  • Foss Bryggeri – Brewery
  • Hans H. Holm – Felt hats
  • King Oscar – Sea food
  • H. C. Reiersen – Tailor
  • Christian Rohde & Søn – Tailor
  • M. Selmer – photographer
  • O. Sørensen Vogn- og Karosserifabrikk – Automobil
  • L. Szaciński – photographer

    Romania

Purveyors to the Romanian Royal House:
  • BMW
  • Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Carol I
  • Steinway & Sons – pianos
  • M. Welte & Söhne – orchestrions, reproducing pianos
  • Murfatlar SA – wines to Michael
  • Frottirex – bath towels and bedding to Michael
  • Doina Levintza – clothing and accessories to Michael
  • Dan Coma – clothing and accessories to Michael
  • Halewood International – Rhein extra sparkling wines to Michael
  • SC Transavia SA – chicken meat to Michael
  • Principal Company SA – Salonta sausage products to Michael
  • Biborţeni – mineral water to Michael
  • Exotique Romania – Exotic furniture and decorative items
  • Carol Parc Hotel – Hotelier and catering services
  • Rue du Pain – Boulangerie Artisanale – bakery, pastry and confectionery products
  • Bridge Painting Group - Printing Company, Offset lithography, Hot-foil stamping, Embossing, and special finishings

    Spain

Sweden

Thailand

United Kingdom

Historical reigning households

Austria-Hungary

Bavaria

Purveyors to the Court of Bavaria:
  • FA Ackermanns Kunstverlag – art publishing
  • Ed Meier – shoes, clothes, leather goods and accessories
  • Eilles – coffee and tea
  • Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Ludwig II
  • Fr. Ant. Prantl – printing and leather goods

    Brazil

Purveyors to the Brazilian Imperial Family:
Purveyors to the Court of France:
Commercial honours and recognitions in the form of warrant appointments were issued by royal households of the Indian Princely States to purveyors of goods and services prior to the end of imperial rule in 1947. In recent years, former suzerain monarchies such as the House of Ghorpade have revived these institutions as programs to foster economic growth and encourage the patronage of small, independent, and local businesses.

Italy

Purveyors to the Italian Royal Family:
  • Acqua di Biella – eau de Cologne to Umberto I
  • Ballarino Gioielli – jewellery
  • Baratti & Milano – sweets
  • Bianchi – cars
  • Caffarel – chocolate
  • Caraceni – clothes
  • Fratelli Carli – olive oil
  • Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to King Victor Emmanuel II
  • Florio – wine
  • Gancia – wine
  • Gentilini – food
  • Marinella – ties
  • Martini & Rossi – liquor
  • Musy, Padre & Figli – jewellery
  • Pagani – sweets
  • Pernigotti – chocolate
  • Petochi – jewellery
  • Prada – leather goods, trunks and clothes
  • Saiwa – food
  • Sperlari – food
  • Steinway & Sons – pianos
  • Luigi Borrelli – clothing

    Ottoman Empire

Purveyors to the sultans of the Ottoman Empire:
Purveyors to the Portuguese Royal Household:
  • Ballarino Gioielli – jewellery
  • Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Luís I
  • Confeitaria Nacional – confectionary to Luís I, Carlos I, Manuel II

    Prussia

Purveyors to the Court of Prussia:
In the Russian Empire since 1856 there was the designation with the highest authorization "Supplier of His Imperial Majesty" with the state coat of arms on the shield. From 1895, at the request of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, a second, additional authorization was granted: "Supplier of Her Imperial Majesty". Both authorizations existed until 1917, until the abdication of Nicholas II.
Purveyors to the Russian Imperial Family:
  • Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Nicholas I 1843
  • Fabergé – jewellery to Nicholas II
  • Smirnoff – vodka
  • Cristal – champagne
  • Steinway & Sons – pianos
  • Gubanova Toiletries of Morshansk Russia appointed in 1763 with a Royal Warrant by Empress Catherine II to provide special cleaning and skincare products
  • The Victoria Fine Soap Works, Minsk, Belarus – soap to Nicholas I and the Imperial family
  • The Perfume Factory Partnership of Pharmacist A. M. Ostroumov - perfume, cologne, anti-dandruff soap and other medicinal cosmetics, 1900 - 1920

    Sulu

Royal Warrants by Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram:
Royal Warrant Holders of the Yugoslav Court:
  • Sljeme – trunks and leather goods, appointed in 1931