If you should happen to be in Britain, take a careful look at some of the products on sale and you might be surprised to see a coat of arms and the words ‘By Appointment to...’ stamped on the side. It’s a right royal way of showing that senior members of the royal family regularly use the item. You see, it’s not just by driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road that Britain differs to the rest of the world. Even in matters as mundane as shopping, it’s hard to forget about the existence of the royal family.

 

But it’s not only products that have royal warrants distinguishing them, a select number of retailers do as well. These shops are a cut above the rest and as such are a great destination for style, service and, prestige.

 

You may not have the pedigree of royalty, the money of royalty or the standing of royalty, but who cares? If you want to feel just like royalty, at least for a day, all you need to do is head to London where, with a little knowledge you can shop just like royalty.

 

To make things even easier, your devoted shoppers here at IDEX scoured the streets of the British capital to find out just where the royals shop. So, put your crown on, pick up your scepter and enjoy IDEX's right royal retail guide.

 

First of all, a little background. Trades people who supply goods and services to the monarchy for more than five years can be awarded a royal warrant as a way of recognizing their service, and for letting us mere mortals know where Britain's first family like to buy their clothes, their wine, and, of course, their jewelry.

 

Nothing screams royalty like heritage so, as you would expect the tradition of giving royal warrants dates back to way back when. From earliest times tradesmen and women have served their sovereign by providing goods and services - from making robes and regalia to repairing roofs and painting walls. The first rewards for this loyal service came in the form of Royal Charters, which were granted to the trade guilds, later known as livery companies. The earliest recorded Royal Charter was granted to the Weavers’ Company in 1155 by Henry II. In 1394 Dick Whittington (yes THE Dick Whittington) helped obtain a Royal Charter for his own company, the Mercers, who traded in luxury fabrics.  

 

During the reign of Henry VIII, Thomas Hewytt was appointed to ‘serve the court with swannes and cranes and all kinds of wildfoule’ Queen Elizabeth I’s household book listed, among other things, the Yeoman purveyors of ‘veales, beeves & muttons; sea & freshwater fish.’

 

On more familiar footing, in 1684 goods and services to the palace included a haberdasher and a watchmaker.

Today some 800 individuals and companies, including a few non-UK companies hold more than 1,100 warrants. The warrants are awarded by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of the queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.

 

Gems Fit for Royalty

Obviously, if you are royalty, you have to make sure you have a dazzling and exquisite array of jewels. You have the crown jewels, for sure, but sometimes schlepping those antique pieces out of storage is just too much hassle. For a more contemporary look, where does the queen go? The answer is Garrard; a jeweler founded more than 270 years ago, which has served as crown jeweler for over a century and a half.

 

Garrard was founded in 1735 by goldsmith George Wickes. Soon after, he was appointed as goldsmith to the Prince of Wales. Since 1843, when Queen Victoria bestowed the honor of crown jeweler on the company, Garrard has served six successive monarchs. Some of Garrard's gems are even on display in the jewel house at the Tower of London.

 

Garrard’s London flagship store is located in a refurbished Edwardian building in Albemarle Street, originally built for the company in 1911. The building’s high ceilings have been revealed and the best of the original decoration revealed.

 

On the ground floor visitors enter the jewelry hall, which uses natural light to show off the jewelry. Directly in front of the entrance is a silver screen displaying the three Garrard royal warrants. Jewelry is displayed in shagreened boxes, or in clear glass panels within the mirrored pilasters.

 

Tucked away downstairs is the private sales room, no doubt fit for royalty; should they happen to drop in. While at the foot of the stairs, a champagne bar offers customers refreshments.

 

The upper floor is the place to find contemporary pieces in a more formal, traditional display space. Objects are stored in plan chests made of sheet stainless steel.

 

In the couture department drawers pull out of a mirrored wall, gravity defying display cases are cantilevered into the room, and a mannequin stands statue-like on a plan chest.

 

The interior was designed by Tom Bartlett who says of his creation, “retail is theater, and theater means fantasy.” Garrard truly puts on a performance fit for royalty.

 

To be honest though, Garrard is really for browsing and fantasizing (remember, you might not actually have the budget of royalty...) but Mappin & Webb a high street jeweler offers a chance to shop where the queen shops and to actually buy something.

 

Founded in 1774 by Jonathan Mappin, Mappin & Webb is a leading UK retailer of fine jewelry and silverware. It was recently bought by a consortium, led by Icelandic investment group Baugur for £21 million ($37,188,900).

 

The chain actually began in the north of England, in Sheffield where founder Jonathan Mappin opened his first small silversmith in 1774.

 

The first store to be opened in London was in 1849, and was soon followed by two further London outlets. In 1858, following rapid expansion of the Sheffield factory, John Newton Mappin invited his brother-in-law, George Webb to join him in the business.

 

Mappin & Webb’s reputation spread and in 1897 the first royal warrants were granted. Today Mappin & Webb is silversmith to the queen and to the Prince of Wales.

 

Clothing Fit for Royalty

You've chosen your jewelry, and now you need to build an outfit around it. What would the royal family do? There are a number of choices but one of the obvious ones is the iconic British brand Burberry.

 

Founded in 1856 by 21 year old Thomas Burberry, a former draper’s assistant in Hampshire, the first London store was opened in 1891. (The site still serves as the company’s headquarters.)

 

Along with the royal family, Burberry has outfitted some of the most famous names in recent history - explorers Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton on their respective Antarctica journeys, Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Both the queen and the Prince of Wales have granted the company royal warrants.

 

If you are looking for something a little less mainstream, try Gieves and Hawkes. Located at No. 1 Saville Row, the tailors boasts royal warrants from the queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Pince of Wales. The store has outfitted royalty for two centuries and was first granted a royal warrant in the early 19th century by George III.

 

Food Fit for Royalty

You’re hosting a royal banquet and you need somewhere to go for provisions. Where else would a royal do their fine delicacy shopping than at Fortnum and Mason? One of the bastions of London trading, Fortnum’s was founded in 1707.

 

As befits the store, the royal connection stretches as far back as its inception - one of the partners William Fortnum was a footman for Queen Anne's Royal Household. Further strengthening the tie between royalty and grocer, in 1761 his grandson, Charles went into the service of Queen Charlotte. 

 

During the Victorian era the grocer’s was called upon to provide food for prestigious court functions. It is said that Queen Victoria even sent shipments of Fortnum and Mason’s concentrated beef tea to Florence Nightingale's hospitals during the Crimean war.

 

And, after you’ve spent hours shopping, what better way to end the day than with a glass of Moet & Chandon champagne, by appointment to the queen, of course.