In a royal first, Prince William and the Princess of Wales will be announcing their first royal warrants this year.

Traditionally only the monarch decides who may grant Royal Warrants.

A Royal Warrant of Appointment is granted as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the royal household.

There is no requirement for the company concerned to be British owned or UK-based. There are currently around 800 Royal Warrant holders.

They represent a cross-section of trade and industry, from individual craftspeople to global multi-nationals, ranging from dry cleaners to fishmongers.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have granted Royal Warrants of Appointment to almost 400 companies including Champagne Bollinger, Heinz Foods and Molton Brown

Queen Camilla recently granted seven new royal warrants, including her favourite fashion designers Anna Valentine, and Fiona Clare, as well as her Mayfair hairdresser Jo Hansford and hat designer Philip Treacy.

The Royal Warrant may be displayed on a company's products, stationery, advertisements and other printed material, in their premises and on delivery vehicles.

Warrant-holding firms do not provide their goods or services for free to the Royal Households, and all transactions are conducted on a strictly commercial basis.

A Royal Warrant is initially granted for up to five years to a named individual at a company, known as the "Grantee".

A Warrant may be cancelled at any time and is automatically reviewed if the Grantee dies or leaves the business, or if the firm goes bankrupt or is sold.

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Prince William and the Princess of Wales are to grant their own Royal Warrants