The Princess of Wales Is Granting Royal Warrants—Which British Brands Will Kate Crown?

The Princess of Wales will soon grant Royal Warrants.

The move will undoubtedly generate excitement across British industries—the warrants, which recognise companies supplying goods to the royal household, offer a prestigious stamp of approval that can boost sales significantly. 

I’m sure the British government will be thrilled with the Princess’s new role too, given her popularity on the world stage and the well-documented ‘Kate Effect’ phenomenon. Since 2011, brands have experienced skyrocketing sales whenever Kate is identified as wearing or using their products. 

In 2015, Grazia magazine called Kate the UK’s most “bankable fashion star” after it emerged that the princess’s style choices have brought “an astounding £1billion into the ailing British economy, eclipsing anything generated by supermodels, music stars and even Oscar winners”.

As as a ‘Grantor’ of Royal Warrants, Kate’s influence is now set to expand.  A Royal Warrant from the Princess will be a highly sought-after honour.  They’re an excellent opportunity for Kate to highlight British craftsmanship and industry worldwide.

Royal Warrants date back to medieval times but were formalized in the 15th century. Today, they’re granted for a period of up to five years and come with strict criteria—including, under King Charles III’s changes, proof of a robust sustainability policy. 

The latter aligns seamlessly with William’s focus on environmental issues since launching The Earthshot Awards in 2020.  Both William and Kate have gravitated towards sustainable fashion brands in recent years, using their influence to spotlight British craftsmanship and eco-conscious choices.  I think we’ll see this reflected in the Royal Warrants Kate issues.

(Above: Kate visiting a Leeds-based textile mill in 2023.)

So, which businesses will receive a Royal Warrant from the Princess?

The possibilities are endless, and speculation is already rampant. 

Are Alexander McQueen, Catherine Walker and Jenny Packham in the running?  I’d say so.  They’re all staples in Kate’s wardrobe and her go-to labels when preparing for high-profile engagements, including the late Queen Elizabeth’s jubilees, overseas visits, royal weddings and so on.

Handbag designer Strathberry is said to be a contender too. As is the clothing brand, Holland Cooper. 

What about Emmy London? Kate’s worn 16 pairs of shoes and nearly as many handbags from the company.  They’re a women-led company that identifies as a ‘slow fashion’ brand and adopts a sustainable approach. 

I’ll throw Mulberry’s hat into the ring too. The brand is synonymous with British style. Kate’s carried 12 of their handbags to date. We suspect her office has a working relationship with the brand. We have spotted her carry designs that differ from the company’s off-the-shelf offering. For example, the green Amberley carried by Kate features a small tubular top handle. The same bag in Mulberry’s online store does not, it comes with a crossbody strap instead, suggesting Kate’s is bespoke.

I wonder if Brora will make the list.  They’re a luxury fashion brand that Kate’s worn many times. They produce cashmere knitwear, clothing and accessories. Their knitwear is made by hand in Scotland, using 200-year-old mills. The cashmere is knitted and dyed in the Scottish Borders using traditional skills and equipment. They’re also committed to ethical design and production. They’re a strong contender in my view.

Beulah London—perhaps? Kate has a longstanding relationship with Beulah London and its founders, Lavinia Brennan and Natasha Rufus Isaacs. The Princess was one of the brand’s earliest high-profile supporters, wearing Beulah dresses for public engagements as far back as 2011. Her endorsement of the brand has helped raise its profile significantly.

The two founders share a passion for ethical fashion and empowering women. Their work focuses on creating employment opportunities for women who have survived human trafficking.

Kate’s love for Beulah dresses isn’t just about their flattering silhouettes and timeless designs—it’s likely tied to the brand’s socially conscious ethos too, allowing her to harness the ‘Kate Effect’ for good.

If Kate wants to honour her favourite jeweller, we might see a royal warrant granted to Kiki McDonough. The Princess owns 21 pieces by the jeweller. Far far more than any other designer or brand.

And there’s L.K. Bennett. Kate catapulted their now-iconic Sledge shoe to fame in 2011. The shoe garnered numerous headlines over the years and even featured in an exhibit about royal style in the V&A museum. Kate’s continued to regularly wear the brand’s clothing, coats and bags since.

Of course, I’ve focused on fashion designers and jewellers (this is a style blog, after all). But look at the current list of royal warrant holders, and you’ll see it includes less glamorous trades, too—upholsterers, fire prevention equipment suppliers, animal feed merchants, and irrigation system specialists.

Perhaps we’ll see Royal Warrants for the mundane things Kate deals with daily. Maybe the Princess’s preferred electrician, her crockery supplier or the garden centre she visits the most? I think this is likely, especially as Kate is not keen to be seen as a ‘clothes horse’.

I’m interested to see how Kate approaches the task on the whole. Will she issue just a handful of warrants to begin with? Grant them slowly and steadily over the years? Or take a broader approach? 

The announcement comes as Kate continues her steady return to public life following a challenging year.  She’s had to deal with surgery, cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, recovery, rumour-mongering, conspiracy theories and intrusive privacy violations on top of the usual stresses and strains of family life that come with raising three children.

I suspect she’s been quietly preparing for this for some months already.  The research she’d need to conduct (reviewing documents, assessing policies etc) would have been a perfect way for her to continue to work behind the scenes while recovering at home. 

Going forward, issuing Royal Warrants allows the Princess to support British businesses and generate positive press for the Royal Family without conducting too many royal engagements. 

Kate’s new role in granting warrants underscores her increasing authority and influence within the royal family. As the monarchy continues to slim down, with fewer working members and an aging core group, Kate and William are only set to take on more prominent roles as time goes on.

Bonus!

Answer this question in the comments: Which brand do you think deserves the Princess of Wales’ seal of approval?

Who will earn the coveted royal seal? Will Kate’s choices lean toward established heritage brands, or will she spotlight bold, innovative companies?  Perhaps a mixture of both?

Let me know below!