Danish royal court announces end of long-running royal warrant system to modernise monarchy

The Danish royal court has announced sweeping changes to royal warrant system dating back to the 1800s to modernise the monarchy under King Frederik X and Queen Mary.

The long-running scheme will be phased out by 2030 as the process of awarding special designation to companies who provide goods and services to the royal household has been deemed as "no longer in keeping with the times".

It is the latest change to take place since Frederik X succeeded his mother Queen Margrethe II as monarch in January.

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There are currently 104 Danish businesses and five foreign companies using the designations including "Holder of the Royal Warrant" or "By Appointment to The Royal Danish Court".

Some of the well-known companies that currently hold the title include Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen and Ole Lynggaard, a fine jewellery brand whose pieces are often seen on Queen Mary.

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The current system allows companies to use such designations and images of the Danish royal crown on their products, branding, packaging and letterheads.

The title gives businesses an added level of prestige by their association with the royal court.

But it will be phased out by December 31, 2029.

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"A system which implies that individual companies can claim special recognition from the Royal House of Denmark for a number of years is no longer in keeping with the times," the palace said in a statement.

The first company to get such a title was in 1840 and it was historically given to companies or tradesmen who continually supplied goods or services to the royal family.

"Since those times, the designation has, to a greater extent, been bestowed as a special recognition of a company based on, among other things, criteria concerning social responsibility and propriety," the royal court said.

"It is the view of The Royal House of Denmark that a system which implies that individual companies can claim special recognition from The Royal House of Denmark for a number of years is no longer in keeping with the times."

In recent years, however, several of the companies which supply goods or services to the royal household were not on the list of Royal Warrant holders, while some that do hold the title no longer, or rarely, service the royal household.

"The expression 'purveyor to the Court' is thus no longer an accurate title," the statement said.

Current royal warrant holders will have five years to adapt to the changes, the royal court said.

In January, upon the change of throne, the royal court said its warrant system would be reviewed at a later date.

It has now decided to scrap the scheme altogether but will allow current warrant holders to keep their five-year terms.

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King Frederik and Queen Mary, the statement added, would continue to support Danish brands, the statement said.

"The King and The Queen and the other members of The Royal Family will continue to support the interests of Danish business in a way that considers as many companies and industries as possible.

"This will – as is the case today – take place in connection with, among other things, company visits, conferences and promotional business campaigns abroad."