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In just a few days’ time, King Charles III will be taking part in England’s first coronation in 70 years, continuing a tradition that dates back to the 10th century. Which makes now a good time to brush up on another monarchial tradition, the issuing of royal warrants, which has been a precedent since the 1400s.
Royal warrants are issued to businesses that provide goods to the royal household, a broad category that encompasses everything from condiments to bespoke suits. It should come as no surprise that King Charles, a lifelong natty dresser and champion of British craft and manufacturing, issued a swath of warrants to domestic tailors, shoemakers, knitters, and more during his time as the Prince of Wales.
While Charles’s ascension from the Prince of Wales to the king will in time change how his warrants are displayed—more on that here—the goods below all come from firms he patronized in his former role. Whether they provide handmade Panama hats, bullion-embroidered smoking slippers or cashmere hoodies, each may claim to be fit for a king.
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John Smedley Hawley Rollneck
Few things are more English than a rollneck (or what’s called a turtleneck on this side of the pond). And John Smedley, which has been producing knitwear in England in 1784, has now ensured they may be worn year-round round thanks to its Hawley model made from soft Sea Island cotton.
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Tricker’s Gigio Suede Chelsea Boots
It may not come as a surprise that Tricker’s, whose 1829 founding makes it the oldest established footwear brand in England, counts King Charles as a client. We’re not sure if these mod-ish suede Chelsea boots are his style—but they might be yours.
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Turnbull & Asser Plain White Cotton Shirt with T&A Collar and Double Cuffs
By tradition, many royal warrant holders will not disclose which items are preferred by the royal household. But we’d have a hard time imagining that King Charles doesn’t have at least one white Turnbull & Asser shirt with French cuffs in his rotation.
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Ettinger Heritage St. James Lid-Over Attaché Case
Ettinger’s St. James attaché is a new release—but based on a case carried by its founder Gerry Ettinger close to 100 years ago. Sized to be smaller and lighter than traditional iterations, it’s made with full-grain buttero leather sourced from Tuscany and finished with solid brass locks. File under “heirloom.”
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Lock & Co. Superfino Montecristi Panama
The origins of the St. Street hatter Lock & Co. stretch back to 1676, during the reign of the last King Charles. Since that time, they’ve provided hats for Lord Nelson, Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill—and you, should you fancy this Panama hat hand-woven in Ecuador from palm straw and finished with a black grosgrain ribbon.
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Barbour Classic Beaufort Wax Jacket
The royals’ patronage of Barbour is no secret, with King Charles preferring their Beaufort model. Originally designed for shooting, it features a zipped “game pocket” at the rear that’s intended to carry a felled pheasant but can also stash a bag of coffee or a magazine.
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Burberry Pimlico Trench Coat
Not even royalty is spared from England’s perpetual drizzle, and the royal household has long gone to Burberry for their water-repelling needs. The fashion house’s Pimlico is a lighter take on the trench coat, made from 100% cotton with a mid-length cut and a clean silhouette.
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Ede & Ravenscroft Bloomsbury Burgundy Velvet Jacket
Founded in 1689, Ede & Ravenscroft has built a niche supplying ceremonial robes to the royal family, having outfitted the coronations of Kings William III, George III and Queen Mary II. A ceremonial robe may not be applicable to your lifestyle, but we’re sure you can find an occasion for this double-breasted burgundy jacket made in London by the firm.
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Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Hoodie
King Charles is often seen in a bespoke pinstripe suit, or if he’s deep into weekend mode, a tweed sport jacket. But when he’s lounging on the sofa at Clarence House, far from the eyes of his subjects or press, we’d like to imagine him pulling on this relaxed-fitting cashmere hoodie made in Scotland by Johnstons of Elgin.
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Dents Delta Leather Driving Glove in Cork
The king is a confirmed owner of a 1970 DB6 Volante Aston Martin, which he received as a 21st birthday gift and has kept since. Behind the wheel, he might sport a pair of smart-looking driving gloves like this pair from Dents, which are made from hair sheep leather and left unlined for a better grip.
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Daks Otis Field Jacket
Daks stands out among royal warrant holders for being a fashion house and holding three warrants—one from the late Queen, one from the late Duke of Edinburgh, and another from the former Prince of Wales. Its more contemporary focus yields pieces like this on-trend field jacket based on the design of the M-65 and made from water-repellent Italian fabric.
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Corgi Striped Intarsia Cotton Socks
Not every good endorsed by the Prince of Wales costs a princely sum. One such counterexample comes from Corgi, a Welsh sock maker whose output includes these ribbed intarsia cotton socks distinguished by a varsity-style stripe.
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Anderson & Sheppard Merino Wool Polo Shirt
117-year-old Savile Row occupant Anderson & Sheppard is, of course, best known for its bespoke tailoring, a service it has provided to the Duke of Windsor, Gary Cooper and the former Prince of Wales. But no visit to London is required to partake in its ready-to-wear line, which consists of tasteful, casual staples like this long-sleeved polo shirt knit from lightweight Merino wool.
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Crockett & Jones P.O.W. Black Velvet
This velvet smoking slipper from Crockett & Jones is marked by the Prince of Wales’s heraldic badge, hand-embroidered in gold and silver bullion wire. It may mark the wearer as a particularly stylish pretender to the throne.
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Benson & Clegg Three Lions Blazer Button Set
The royal arms of England, which depict three roaring lions, were first adopted in 1154 by the House of Plantagenet, which ruled the English throne until 1485. Here they’re embossed on gold-plated blazer buttons made by Benson & Clegg, which can add a regal air to any jacket.
