The news that Catherine, Princess of Wales, still better known to many as Kate, is to be allowed to issue her own Royal Warrants, is a welcome sign she is recovering from her diagnosis for cancer and is back carrying out public duties.
Here we look at some of the people and businesses that are given these warrants and by which member of the royals.
Royal Warrants are always approved by the monarch and are awarded to people and companies that regularly supply goods or services to the royal household.
The King will have been approached, probably by William on behalf of his wife, to see if Catherine could also award warrants.
King Charles III has continued to issue warrants, which he has been entitled to do since he was Prince of Wales. He received permission to do so from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II (who bestowed a total of 686 warrants during her long reign) to bestow them in his own right.
He issued 159 warrants as Prince of Wales. However, the late Queen did not allow his then wife, Princess Diana, to award any warrants. Instead, she used to send hand-written notes in recognition of excellent service, which were equally cherished by the recipients. Princess Anne is not permitted to send warrants, even though she is, arguably, the hardest working member of the Royal Family
Queen Camilla is entitled to award warrants in her own name, which she has done since Charles ascended to the throne. The record for warrants granted is held by the late Queen Mother, while the late Duke of Edinburgh was comparatively frugal with his, handing out just 38 during his lifetime.
Many suppliers of goods and services to the Royal Family are holders of Royal Warrants, highly sought-after public certificates showing that the company has the King or another member of the Royal Family as a client or customer.
