Queen Camilla has granted prestigious royal warrants for the first time, it can be revealed today.
The luxury department store Fortnum & Mason is one of seven brands to be given Camilla’s seal of approval.
Other businesses to gain a warrant include Wartski jewellers in London, who made the King and Queen’s wedding rings in 2005.
Queen Camilla, who is known to enjoy a tipple and is president of Wine GB, the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry, has also chosen to bestow two wine businesses with her warrant.
Queen Camilla (pictured) has granted prestigious royal warrants for the first time, it can be revealed today
The luxury department store Fortnum & Mason (pictured) is one of seven brands to be given Camilla’s seal of approval
One is Camel Valley in Cornwall, a family-owned business that last year provided wine for the lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace for South Korea‘s President and First Lady.
The other is Corney & Barrow in London, which was founded in 1780 and is one of the UK’s oldest wine merchants.
Camel Valley boss Bob Lindo said: ‘Her Majesty has taken a keen interest in the development of English wines and has been a terrific source of encouragement and enthusiasm. To now have been appointed as one of her first warrant holders is very special.’
Other recipients of warrants from Camilla include the London chemist D.R. Harris and Co, the ‘floral alchemists’ Shane Connolly & Co and the stationery suppliers Smythson.
King Charles pictured holding a bottle of Camel Valley wine in 2015 during a visit to Rick Stein’s Cafe
Frank Smythson, who started the company, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in the 1890s to provide stationery for all her residences.
Companies can advertise having a warrant as a badge of honour.
Warrants date back to medieval times and reflect the interests of the member of the Royal Family granting them.
Having a royal warrant is estimated to boost a company’s revenue by at least five per cent.