By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen

[adrums1999]

On the side of certain foods and products it says this. What does it mean? Also, what does the Queen do all day? How does she get money? Does she have a bank account? and does she do her own shopping?

[CheekyChops]

Yes, I can just her see Her Majesty pushing a trolley round Aldi....

[saxy_jag]

Basically, it means that the company carrying the 'by appointment' notice is allowed to call itself an official supplier of goods or services to the Queen (or the palace) and can thus display her coat of arms on the signage. Similarly, rights are also granted by the Prince of Wales and certain other royals.

It's a bit like an endorsement, which is why Hyacinth Bucket insists on having her goods delivered in a van which carries the 'by appointment' sign.

I would imagine most of the Queen's everyday shopping is done by her staff on an order, delivery and invoice basis, although I don't think it's unknown for her to visit local shops in person when she's at Balmoral or Sandringham.

[Catso]

There's a little butchers in the village of Dersingham (near Sandringham) which is 'by appointment'. (At least there was last time we were there, a couple of years ago). So 'her madj' does use local shops.

[Octavius]

These words are used as a mark of recognition to show that a manufacturer or shopkeeper supplies goods to certain members of the Royal Family.

The sign is a plague bearing the Royal Coat of Arms of HM the Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen Mother or HRH The Prince of Wales with the words By Appointment to and then the name of the relevant royal person.

The coat of arms is displayed on the shop or factory of the supplier. It is also shown on their headed paper and on the sides of delivery vans.

The system of By Appointment to has been in existence since the Middle Ages.

To receive Royal Appointment the supplier must have been providing the goods or service for at least 5 years to the appropriate member of the Royal Family.

It is only open to tradesmen and shopkeepers, not professionals like doctors.

Once awarded the Royal Appointment can be removed, recent removals have been Harrods (wonder why??!) and Benson & Hedges cigarettes.

Royal Appointment can be awarded to any size of trader, it is not restricted to just large organisations.

A trader can ask for Royal Appointment by applying to the Lord Chamberlain's office.

http://www.royalwarrant.org/

[Octavius]

Needless to say, it is a �plaque� and not a �plague�.

[spudqueen]

The Queen banks at Coutts.

[DottyH]

I sold her daughter a sofa in the sale at the house of fraser cardiff in 1979 (she was preganant i think)