THE KING’S SHOPKEEPERS

Evening Star, Issue 20167, 6 May 1929, Page 3

THE KING’S SHOPKEEPERS

A CHERISHED PRIVILEGE Very proud are tlic 1,40 U lloyal war-rant-holders of their appointments, tor they have been singled out from many others to supply certain commodities to the lloyal household. Naturally, the finality of thei’ - goods and their business integrity must be nl the highest, and those factors—resulting from conscientious trading-—generally give them well-deserved advertisement. 'Pile first Iloyrl warrants were given in Stuart days, but not until Victorian times did the holders form themselves into associations. They amalgamated into what is now the lloyal Warrant-' holders’ _ Association. The title is frequently misused, and where such action is deliberate appropriate steps arc taken to deal with the culprit. But often the offence is perpetrated in error. Thus, one of the lloyal family enter- an establishment not holding the Royal warrant and buys something. Not infrequently the firm 1 relieves this action gives it a Royal warrant, and the association has to point out the mistake. _ One of the most amusing misapphen- 1 tlons occurred when a London coffee stall keepei mounted the Prince of i Wales Feathers and the legend “ Patronised by the Prince of Wales,” hecause one night King Edward, then Prince of Wales, had taken refreshment thereat. One of the Royal warrant-holders has supplied the- 'Royal Family with tea for 218 years. ~