The Prince and Princess of Wales quietly picked up extra titles during a recent visit to Scotland, something noticed only after their names appeared slightly differently in public. The timing lined up with news they will receive new authority this spring as Grantors of Royal Warrants.
Here is how eligibility works: “Royal Warrants are only granted to individuals or companies that have made a continuing and significant supply of goods and/or services, ordered and paid for by the Household of the Grantor, over a minimum trading period of five years within the last seven years.”
For brands, the benefit is visibility tied directly to the royal household. They are given ‘the right to display the appropriate Royal Arms on their product, packaging, stationery, advertising, premises and vehicles’ and that permission lasts for a five year period once granted under the current system.
During a separate visit to Scotland this week, the couple were carrying out royal duties in Stirling and Falkirk. Some onlookers were confused when they were introduced as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay rather than their more familiar Wales titles during the walkabouts there.
A royal author explained the switch in a recent discussion, saying, “North of the England border they’re known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay,” and following up with, “It’s a title which dates back to when Scotland was an entirely separate kingdom before the union with England.”
That explanation ties into a older custom. As described in the same conversation, “The title descends from that given to. I think one of the first kings of Scotland gave to his eldest son and its descended ever since the early 14th Century.” The tradition is traced back to 1396.
The title passes only to the first male heir, meaning Prince George is expected to receive it once William becomes king. Alongside Rothesay, the couple also hold the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Earl and Countess of Chester, titles that will eventually be replaced.
