Mind Streaming

A QUAINT BRITISH PRACTICE

What do a bottle of HP (Houses of Paliament ) brown sauce, a canister of table salt, a bag of sugar, a bottle of Worcester sauce and a jar of Sharwood's mango chutney all have in common? What do they share in common with Steinway pianos, IBM computers, William Caxton and Thomas Crapper? The answer is that they are all the producers/ suppliers of goods or manufactured items, which have 'Royal Warrants.'




The quaint practice of 'Royal Warrants' has its beginnings in the 15th century when royal tradesmen, who supplied the sovereign with goods and or services, were recognised by Warrant of Appointment. Caxton, thus, became by appointment to the monarch, royal printer, in 1476. The practice of such royal patronage continues to this day with the current royal family, and around 800 firms hold Royal Warrants of Appointment now, although some twenty to forty Warrants are removed annually for one reason or another.

Essentially a Warrant is awarded to the 'Grantee' on the basis of having supplied the Royal Family/Household, with a product or service for five years and they are personally responsible for ensuring the proper use of the Warrant. With this prestigious recognition comes an implicit condition that they maintain the quality of their product or service. The Warrant entitles them to display the Royal Arms of their 'Grantor' together with the words 'By Appointment' on their stationery, buildings, vehicles, advertising and packaging. There are strict rules governing the use and display of the Royal Arms.

The system is in the hands of the Lord Chancellor, who is the Head of the Royal Household and of the Royal Household Tradesmen's Warrants Committee. It is part of his responsibility to advise the Grantors, though the final decision rests , always, in the hands of the individual royal. With the recent death of HRH , the Queen Mother, there are now three Grantors; Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, ( who confers the most Warrants) , her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, (who confers the least Warrants), and her son, and heir to the throne, environmentally friendly, Charles, Prince of Wales. Each Warrant entitles the Grantee to use the coat of arms of the Grantor.



From left to right, HRH Queen Elizabeth ( 2 crests; one for England; one for Scotland, HRH, Prince Philip, and HRH, Prince Charles. It is commonly thought that the royals get these products or services free but this is not the case according to the official ROYAL WARRANT HOLDER'S ASSOCIATION website, which, incidentally, has a searchable directory of all the firms who are current royal Warrant holders as well as a lot of other information about this peculiarly British practice. (It is rumoured that the Queen, for example, never carries cash. I suppose that if she did, like all her common subjects, it would seem like vanity, since her portrait is on all currency carried by we plebs.

Warrant Holders are not allowed to disclose details of the goods or services they provide for the royal family, beyond what is contained in the word description under the crest. Thus, for example you might see, beneath the Royal Arms, 'By Appointment........Outfitters to HM The Queen'. I think, in Britain, there is a common myth, for example, that if your breakfast cereal or marmalade comes in a container which has a royal crest and the words 'by appointment', you are actually eating the foodstuffs that Her Majesty does. Alas the Warrant comes with no such guarantee. The official web site is at pains to point out that the Warrant simply demonstrates a Royal preference for a particular product or service and not confirmation that it is, necessarily, the best ( although there is , perhaps a presumption that it is.)

One favourite Warrant holder has to be the legendary Mr. Thomas Crapper, Sanitary engineer, who confirmed for many that royals actually are human and have to use toilet facilities, as this ancient advertising flyer clip illustrates




johncoxon 10:50 PM - [Link] - Comments ()
...