Royal Warrant of Appointment

According to the Royal Warrant Holders Association website^[1], the history of the Royal Warrant can be traced back to medieval times. At that time, competition was intense, and the Monarch had the pick of the country’s best tradespeople. By the 15th century, the Lord Chamberlain, which is the most senior officer of the Royal Household, formally appointed tradespeople with a Royal Warrant of Appointment, and that practice continues to this day. By the 18th century, Royal tradesmen began displaying the Royal Arms. In 1840, the Royal Warrant Holders Association was formed to ensure the continued existence of the Royal Warrant as a treasured institution. Today, it continues to assist with the administration of Warrants, as well as advising members on all Royal Warrant matters. “A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a document that permits a company to use the Royal Arms in connection with its business in an appointed trading capacity,” the website continues. The Royal Warrant is granted for up to five years at a time as a mark of recognition for the ongoing supply of goods or services to the Royal Household. According to the website, there are approximately 800 Royal Warrant Holders. This includes a few companies from the vertical-transportation industry, including Genesis Lifts Ltd., Penny Hydraulics Ltd. and Apex Lifts. Apex Lifts was first awarded The Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after installing four new bespoke passenger lifts and repairing existing passenger and goods lifts following the fire at Windsor Castle in 1995. Apex Lifts says on its website, “The ultimate seal of approval, the Royal Warrant reflects our dedication to providing the highest standard of customer service, quality and excellence.”^[2]

References

[1] royalwarrant.org

[2] apexlifts.com/about-us/our-royal-warrant