The Princess of Wales will “recognise British skills and industry” when she grants royal warrants to her favoured companies this year, sources close to her have said.
It will be the first time that Kate has granted royal warrants and a first for anyone holding the title Princess of Wales since the days of Queen Mary, who issued warrants before her husband, George V, ascended the throne in 1910.
Charles began issuing warrants as the Prince of Wales in 1980 but that was not extended to his wife, Princess Diana, after their wedding the following year.
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Although there is no timeline yet for when the Prince and Princess of Wales will grant royal warrants, sources close to Kate said it was her “hope” that they would be announced in due course, adding: “She’s keen to recognise British skills and industry.”
Royal warrants are issued for up to five years and are given to favoured companies whose goods are sold to the royal household. Under changes brought in by the King when he was Prince of Wales, suppliers also need to prove that they have a sustainability policy. The companies then become members of the Royal Warrant Holders Association and can use the royal arms in association with their work.
Last month the Queen’s list of royal warrants included her hairdresser, Jo Hansford. Kate’s list could range from companies that supply technology equipment and other practical items to designer fashion brands already associated with her, such as Alexander McQueen, Catherine Walker, Jenny Packham, the handbag designer Strathberry and Holland Cooper, whose Fairisle knit jumper was worn by the princess when she presented CBeebies Bedtime Stories in 2022.
Kate increased public spending by an estimated £1 billion in the 12 months after her wedding to William in 2011, according to research carried out by the marketing firm Mintel. An official royal seal of approval would only serve to further enhance sales for any British company formally associated with the future Queen.
Nicola Pink, founder of the PR and marketing firm We Are Pink, said: “We’ve seen the Princess of Wales have a huge impact on brands, often referred to as ‘the Kate effect’. What makes it so powerful is that it has always felt genuine — she chooses brands she truly likes or wants to support.”
Catherine Zoraida, a British jewellery designer whose earrings have been worn by the princess on numerous occasions, said that the Kate effect on her company had been “crazy”.
Zoraida, who has workshops in London and Cheltenham, said: “It’s something like a 500 per cent lift in sales whenever she is seen in a pair of earrings. They’re not just one-hit wonders, either. She looks after them well and whenever she rewears them there is another uplift.”
Zoraida became a supplier to the royal household after receiving a call from the Palace in 2012 shortly after setting up her own business.
She said: “A few weeks later, [Kate] was on the front page of every newspaper wearing the earrings and I was pinged around the planet. My website crashed and orders came in from lovely people who were fortunately very patient because, at that stage, I was making them all myself, one by one.”
Susan Kelley of the blog What Kate Wore, described the Kate effect as “a real phenomenon” that began with an increase in sales of tights before the royal wedding and continued apace.
She said: “We see the impact on everything from shoes to handbags, with designers noting a marked increase in orders for styles worn by the Princess of Wales. She remains a major fashion influencer.”
Kate is not the only member of the Wales family driving sales. When her three children were pictured in vintage styles from the British brand Rachel Riley, they sold out online in minutes.
Prince William has “stepped into the spotlight as a style icon”, according to Jack Duckett, a senior consultant at Mintel. Duckett said that although William’s wardrobe “once felt a touch old-school”, it had “undergone a transformation” in recent years. He added: “William has cleverly used his fashion choices to highlight causes that are important to him. By wearing pieces from sustainable fashion brands like Organic Basics, he not only updates his image but also draws attention to the urgent need for environmental responsibility in the fashion industry.”
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Kate and William’s trusted suppliers will now be waiting to find out if they have the official seal of approval. Royal warrants date back to medieval times but were formalised in the 15th century when the Lord Chamberlain, as head of the royal household, formally appointed tradespeople with a Royal Warrant of Appointment. The reigning monarch decides which members of the family can grant warrants.
Last year, the Danish royal family attracted criticism from companies in the country when it announced plans to abolish its royal warrant system. In Britain, the King has continued the tradition.
An announcement is expected regarding the suppliers chosen by the Prince and Princess of Wales, although Kensington Palace declined to comment.
