While out shopping, you may have noticed the royal arms displayed on a company’s packaging, stationery and advertising to show they are favoured by the royal household. 

But do you know which pharmacies are favoured as the “pick of the country's best tradespeople”, according to the royal family? 

In December, King Charles and Queen Camilla granted their second set of Royal Warrants to 386 companies drawn from those previously holding a single Royal Warrant to the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

Read more: Fit for a King: Which pharmacies serve Charles III? 

The royal household also granted warrants to seven companies who had established a trading relationship with Queen Camilla, following on from 152 warrants granted in May from those who previously held one with King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales. 

Three pharmacies continue to hold a Royal Warrant after C+D previously reported on them in 2023: 

• Ainsworths Homeopathic Pharmacy on New Cavendish Street, London 
• D.R. Harris & Co Ltd on St James’s Street, London 
• Walter Davidson & Sons Ltd in Blairgowrie, Scotland 

Quality “discretion” and “trustworthy” 

The Royal Warrants Holders Association say a Royal Warrant lasts for five years and is reviewed in the final year to see if the company is fit for renewal. 

Companies qualify if they supply products or services on a “regular and ongoing basis” to the royal household for at least five of the past seven years, alongside showing they have “an appropriate environmental and sustainability policy and action plan”. 

D.R. Harris managing director Julian Moore told C+D last week (January 7) that it was “honoured to have recently been granted warrants as chemists to Their Majesties The King and Queen”. 

Read more: John Bell & Croyden fails inspection standard over P-meds in ‘retail area’ 

“Having a warrant is very beneficial for us as it is a signifier of a certain level of quality of service, discretion, and increasingly a sign that the company is run in as environmentally friendly a way as possible,” he said.  

The chemists were first granted a Royal Warrant in 1938 to the Queen Mother, before being granted one to the former Prince of Wales in 2002 and in 2012 to the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

D.R. Harris can display the royal arms on its own-brand products which Pinkus says is “very useful when selling abroad” as well as it being “an added symbol of British tradition”. 

Read more: Well parent company snags ‘iconic’ late Queen’s pharmacy John Bell & Croyden 

Walter Davidson & Sons (Davidsons) managing director Allan Gordon confirmed to C+D last week (January 8) that it currently has one Royal Warrant with King Charles after previously having three when they took over a Ballater pharmacy in 1998 who previously held them. 

Davidsons has 57 pharmacies across Scotland and along with pharmacy services and supplies, it supplies agricultural and animal feed supplies to Balmoral Estates for the cattle, deer and horses. 

Gordon said the warrant is “a signal to our patients and customers that we are highly regarded, trustworthy and have the highest standards and principles”. 

Read more: Inside the Queen’s pharmacy: From flu jabs to the coronation anointing oil 

Ainsworths director Tony Pinkus revealed to C+D last week (January 7) its homeopathic medicines are supplied to the royal household for both “personal and veterinary use” as it has held its warrant with King Charles since 1980. 

Similarly to D.R. Harris, he believes the Royal Warrant pushes their services from “local to international”. 

Boots were not able to give an update to C+D as it is still waiting to hear if it will have its Royal Warrant renewed, but it’s warrant was not for pharmacy services. 

If a Royal Warrant is cancelled, companies have up to 12 months to remove the royal arms from packaging, stationery, advertising, buildings and vehicles. 

Read more: Two pharmacists and OTC chief recognised in King’s New Year honours list 

The pharmacy John Bell & Croyden previously held the title as official pharmacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from 1958 until her death in 2022, and in November the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) found it did not meet its inspection standard on “governance”. 

It said that an inspector found that “pharmacy-only medicines (P-meds), including medicines liable to misuse, are available for sale in the retail area and sold by staff who are not healthcare trained”. 

And King Charles recognised two pharmacists and an over-the-counter medication association chief in his new year honours list for their “outstanding contributions to their communities” earlier this month.