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, and Japan 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:
Hardy Brothers
Belgium
In Belgium the title of 'Purveyor to the Court' (Gebrevetteerd Hofleverancier van België/Fournisseur breveté de la Cour de Belgique) 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:
Armani
BMW Belgium Luxembourg
Mercedes-Benz Belgium Luxembourg
Brussels Airlines
Neuhaus
Leonidas
Godiva
Jules Destrooper
Delvaux
Natan Couture
Denmark
Purveyors to the Royal Danish Court:
Japan
Purveyors to the Imperial Household Ministry; after World War II, the permission system was abolished, but purveyors still exist today:
Ando Cloisonné Company — cloisonné
Miyamoto Shoko – silverware
Gekkeikan – sake
Kikkoman – soy sauce
Nissin Foods – food
Toraya Confectionery – wagashi
Toyota – motor vehicles
Manyoken – catering
Yamada Heiando – lacquerware
Koransha – ceramic ware
Kuni – perfume
Otsuka Shoe – shoes
Onshino Tabako - tobacco
Onshino Konpeitō - konpeitō sweets
Monaco
High Patronage of the Monaco Royal Family:
Chocolaterie de Monaco – chocolates
British Theatre Season, Monaco – theatre
Lexus – automobiles
Netherlands
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 ("royal" in Dutch). These companies are also allowed to incorporate a crown in their logo. Examples include:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KPN
Royal Delft
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Vopak
Royal Dutch Football Association
Norway
Purveyors to the Royal Court of the Norway: the status 'purveyor to the court' (hofflevrandør) is no longer awarded.
Karl August Anderson – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)
Farris – mineral water
Foss Bryggeri – Brewery (H.VII Eneberettiget)
Hans H. Holm – Felt hats
King Oscar – Sea food
H. C. Reiersen – Tailor (Kongl. Hoffskredder)
Christian Rohde & Søn – Tailor (Kngl. Norske slotts hoffleverandør)
M. Selmer – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)
O. Sørensen Vogn- og Karosserifabrikk – Automobil
L. Szaciński – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)
Romania
Purveyors to the Romanian Royal House:
BMW
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Carol I (1881)
Steinway & Sons – pianos
M. Welte & Söhne – orchestrions, reproducing pianos (1894, 1910)
Murfatlar SA – wines to Michael (2003)
Frottirex – bath towels and bedding to Michael (2005)
Doina Levintza – clothing and accessories to Michael (2005)
Dan Coma – clothing and accessories to Michael (2005)
Halewood International – Rhein extra sparkling wines to Michael (2006)
SC Transavia SA – chicken meat to Michael (2005)
Principal Company SA – Salonta sausage products to Michael (2007)
Biborţeni – mineral water to Michael (2008)
Exotique Romania – Exotic furniture and decorative items (2009)
Carol Parc Hotel – Hotelier and catering services (2011)
Rue du Pain – Boulangerie Artisanale – bakery, pastry and confectionery products (2011)
Bridge Painting Group - Printing Company, Offset lithography, Hot-foil stamping, Embossing, and special finishings (2013)
Spain
Sweden
Thailand
Uganda
The Royal House of Bunyoro-Kitara awards royal warrants to businesses that deliver goods and services to the royal house on a regular basis. The royal warrant can be awarded by a grantor, either the King, the Queen or the Crown Prince. The Board of the Royal Warrant Holder Society advises the Grantors but each Grantor makes the final decision to grant a Warrant. A business may only receive one Warrant from a Grantor. The warrants of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom are valid for one year.
United Kingdom
Historical reigning households
Austria-Hungary
Augarten porcelain – porcelain and china
J. A. Baczewski – vodka
Bakalowits – crystal chandeliers
Matthäus Bauer – accordions
Jan Becher – herbal bitter
Lucas Bols – liqueurs
Ignaz Bösendorfer – pianos
Carl Suchy & Söhne - watches
Christofle – silverware
Courvoisier – cognac
Demel – chocolate and confectionery
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Franz Joseph I (1872)
E. Fessler – ovens
Móric Fischer de Farkasházy, owner of Herend Porcelain Manufactory – porcelain
Café Gerbeaud – cakes and pastries
Gräf & Stift – carriages
Hancocks & Co – jewelry
L. & C. Hardtmuth – ovens and pencils
Antoni Hawełka – catering
J. A. Henckels – knives
Hotel Imperial – catering
Liebig's Extract of Meat Company – processed meats
J. & L. Lobmeyr – crystal and glassware
Löblich & Co. – heating
Lohner-Werke – carriages
Girolamo Luxardo – apéritif and digestif
Rémy Martin – champagne
Moët et Chandon – champagne
Moser – glass and crystal
Ferdinand Mülhens, owner of the 4711 (brand) – perfume
G. H. Mumm – champagne
L. Ostermayr - glass and porcelain
A. Obholzer Kürschnerei – furs
Paulaner Brewery – beer
Pauly Beds / J. Pauly & Sohn – beds and mattresses
Peek Freans – cookies
Pilsner Urquell – beer
Rieger Orgelbau – organs
Louis Roederer – champagne
Royal Worcester – porcelain
Eduard Sacher, owner of the Hotel Sacher – cakes and pastries
Robert Schlumberger von Goldeck – sparkling wine
Schweighofer – pianos
Adolf Steiner - pianos
William Steinway – pianos
Baron Raimund von Stillfried – photos
Gebrüder Thonet – furniture
Michael Thonet – furniture
Charles Lewis Tiffany – jewelry and silverware
Törley – sparkling wine
Underberg – digestif bitter
John Thomas Underwood – typewriters
Veuve Clicquot – champagne
Nathaniel Wheeler – sewing machines
Wilhelm J. Sluka – cakes and pastries
Zwack – herbal liquors
Bavaria
Purveyors to the Court of Bavaria:
See Liste bayerischer Hoflieferanten(in German).
FA Ackermanns Kunstverlag – art publishing (1879)
Ed Meier – shoes, clothes, leather goods and accessories
Eilles – coffee and tea (1873)
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Ludwig II (1872)
Fr. Ant. Prantl – printing and leather goods (1797)
Brazil
Purveyors to the Brazilian Imperial Family:
Casa Granado – chemists/pharmacists and toiletries
Henry Poole & Co – tailors to Pedro II (1874)
France
Purveyors to the Court of France:
Moutard – printer and bookseller to Marie Antoinette, to Princess Marie Joséphine of Savoy, and to Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy (1770)
Marc-Etienne Janety – master goldsmith and jeweler to Louis XVI (1777)
Adam Weisweiler – cabinet maker to Louis XVI (1778)
Jean-Louis Fargeon – perfumer to Marie Antoinette (1779)
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Napoleon I (1811) and to Napoleon III (1867)
Debauve & Gallais – chocolates to Louis XVIII (1819)
Champagne Delbeck – champagne to Louis Philippe I (1838)
Guerlain – eau de Cologne to Napoleon III (1868)
Italy
Purveyors to the Italian Royal Family:
Acqua di Biella – eau de Cologne to Umberto I (1878)
Ballarino Gioielli (Cavour) – jewellery
Baratti & Milano (Turin) – sweets
Bianchi – cars
Caffarel (Turin) – chocolate
Caraceni (Milan) – clothes
Fratelli Carli (Imperia) – olive oil
Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to King Victor Emmanuel II (1876)
Florio (Marsala) – wine
Gancia – wine
Gentilini (Roma) – food (biscuits)
Marinella (Naples) – ties
Martini & Rossi – liquor
Musy, Padre & Figli (Turin) – jewellery
Pagani (Parma) – sweets
Pernigotti – chocolate
Petochi (Rome) – jewellery
Prada (Milan) – leather goods, trunks and clothes
Saiwa – food (biscuits)
Sperlari – food (biscuits)
Steinway & Sons – pianos
Luigi Borrelli (Naples) – clothing
Ottoman Empire
Purveyors to the sultans of the Ottoman Empire:
M. Welte & Söhne, orchestrions (1896)
Abdullah Frères, photographers (1863)
Portugal
Purveyors to the Portuguese Royal Household:
Ballarino Gioielli (Cavour, Italy) – jewellery
Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Luís I (1866)
Confeitaria Nacional – confectionary to Luís I, Carlos I, Manuel II (1873-1910)
Prussia
Purveyors to the Court of Prussia:
See Liste preußischer Hoflieferanten(in German).
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1841), Wilhelm I (1871), to Friedrich III (1888) and to Wilhelm II (1888)
Russia
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:
Harney & Sons – tea
Yugoslavia
Royal Warrant Holders of the Yugoslav Court:
Sljeme (Zagreb) – trunks and leather goods, appointed in 1931
References
External links
Media related to Royal Warrant holders at Wikimedia Commons