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By CNN's Max Foster, Billy Stockwell and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London

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Queen Camilla has granted her first royal warrants to seven companies, including Shane Connolly, the designer behind the floral arrangements at last year's Coronation and the King and Queen's 2005 wedding, as well as the upmarket central London department store Fortnum & Mason.

The seven companies chosen by Camilla are among 145 previously selected by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales, which have now had their warrants renewed following his ascent to the throne. 

Royal warrants act as a stamp of approval to indicate the preferred goods and services used by the royal household and senior members of the royal family. 

So, if you want to know where Charles and Camilla go hat shopping or buy their wine or organic meat from, it's worth checking out which companies made the cut. 

The use of royal warrants can be traced back to medieval times when Henry II first granted a Royal Charter to the Weavers' Company, according to the Royal Warrants Holders Association. In the 15th century, the first official royal warrants were granted, including to the King's printer, William Caxton. 

Selected companies are given permission to use the royal coat of arms on their packaging, vehicles and advertising for five years. Today, the act of officially endorsing particular brands remains one of the last remaining powers of the British monarchy not influenced by Parliament.

Brand finance expert David Haigh says that customers are willing to pay between 12% and 24% extra for brands that have a royal warrant, according to research carried out by his consultancy last year. 

"There is no doubt that once you get a royal warrant, it does make a difference, day-to-day on the street when people are buying your products and when it comes to the sale of a company," he told CNN. 

They can also benefit British companies on the international stage, Haigh added. "There are plenty of situations where British brands are forging ahead in places like America, the Middle East, China, and having a royal warrant definitely helps."

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Royal warrants are given to a wide range of individuals and companies in various sectors, from agriculture and conservation to office supplies and clothing. 

Other companies on the King and Queen's latest list include Wartski, a London-based jewelry business, Corgi Hosiery Ltd, a Welsh independent sock manufacturer, and Camel Valley, a vineyard in Cornwall trusted to make sparkling wines for the royals.

"Her Majesty has taken a keen interest in the development of English wines," said Bob Lindo, managing director of Camel Valley, adding that she has been "a terrific source of encouragement and enthusiasm."

"To now have been appointed as one of her first warrant holders is very special," he said.

Getting the royal seal of approval takes several years and involves a tough application process. "If you have been offering your goods to one of the royal palaces that grant these things for more than five years continuously, you are eligible to apply," Haigh says. 

This year there was a "rigorous focus on acting for a sustainable future," according to Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, the luxury London-based food and drinks store which was granted one of Camilla's first royal warrants.

 
Haigh has also noticed this shift towards good environmental practice. "It seems quite clear that if there are any [Environmental, Social and Governance] problems with the company, they will not get a royal warrant," he said. 

"Now that actually creates a bit of a double whammy of benefit to those companies. If someone in the royal family uses your product, they like it and they think it's good, that's one thing. If on the other hand they are endorsing the fact that you have high standards of ESG, in the current world, that is worth its weight in gold." 

King Charles' new portrait is proving divisive

Buckingham Palace revealed the first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation on Tuesday, and there was no shortage of commentary on social media. Let's start with the work itself: The 8.5 by 6.5-foot painting is by British artist Jonathan Yeo, who began the project while Charles was still Prince of Wales. He depicts the monarch wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, sword in hand, against a fiery red background that appears to almost engulf him, as a butterfly looks like it's about to land on his shoulder. Art historian Richard Morris said on X, "I really like the portrait... Before photography, to have a great painter capture your real appearance you accepted the revelation of your flaws and your mortality. It's what Yeo captures here." However, reaction below a post on the royal family's Instagram account was more mixed. One user wrote: "I would have loved this if this was any other color than red. He really captured the essence of him in the face, but the harshness of the red doesn't match the softness of his expression." Another post read: "Looks like he's going straight to hell." Find out more on CNN Style.

Jonathan Yeo/PA/AP

Buckingham Palace has written to an animal rights group to confirm that Queen Camilla will no longer buy clothes that include animal pelts. The letter sent to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and seen by CNN, said that: "Her Majesty will not procure any new fur garments." It is unclear, however, what the Queen's position is with regard to fur items in her existing wardrobe. The move follows a similar stand taken by her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled out buying new fur products back in 2019. Read our full story here.

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Analysis: Meghan visited Nigeria as a duchess and left an African princess.

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From CNN's Stephanie Busari in Lagos, Nigeria

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on what was officially dubbed a three-day private visit to Nigeria, yet it unfolded with all the grandeur and attention typically reserved for royal tours. They were warmly received everywhere they went, with Nigerians showcasing their famed hospitality. The couple were showered with gifts, including a touching portrait of a young Harry with his mum.
 
For both Nigeria and the Sussexes, this visit held significant weight. It was an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its capability to host such high-profile guests and dispel any doubts raised by skeptics, especially considering the country's standing in the eyes of the UK's Foreign Office as one of the most dangerous countries to visit in the world.
 
Meanwhile, for Prince Harry and Meghan, this marked their first major trip to Africa since relinquishing their official royal duties. It was a chance for them to engage in a hearts-and-minds charm offensive, which they executed with aplomb. Meghan, in particular, embraced exploring her Nigerian ancestry after discovering several years ago through a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian.
 
Read more on this story here.

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Archbishop Justin Welby was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles III at Windsor Castle. The honor was in recognition of his services during the coronation last year. It was the first time the monarch hosted an investiture ceremony himself since his cancer diagnosis. Charles conducted the ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, where he honored several individuals who played a part in his crowning day.

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King Charles formally handed over a military role that he had held for three decades to Prince William earlier this week. On Monday, Prince William became the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps at a ceremony at the Army Aviation Center in Hampshire, southern England. 

The King previously announced William's military appointment in August 2023. "Let me just say what a great joy it is to be with you even briefly on this occasion but also it is tinged with great sadness after 32 years of knowing you all, admiring your many activities and achievements through the time that I've been lucky enough to be Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps," the King said. 

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The Army Air Corps is Prince Harry's old regiment that he served with during his time in the military and many have been left wondering if the Duke of Sussex might have been given the role had he continued royal duties. 

Regardless, after his father symbolically handed over a simple blue beret, William quickly took over the responsibilities of the colonel-in-chief role, receiving a briefing on the regiment's current work before meeting aircrew and supporting ground staff and viewing operational aircraft used by the corps on its missions. After hearing from soldiers, the prince departed the base in an Apache helicopter.

"She is doing well ... The children are jealous that I am here."

– Prince of Wales

Prince William offered up a rare update on his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales last Friday. He was asked about Kate by staff during his visit to St. Mary's Community Hospital on the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast in southwest England. 
 
William's remarks came during a two-day visit to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. While there, he also met with representatives from local businesses on the harbor front. Kate revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer and was in the "early stages" of treatment on March 22. 

A heads up to our Royal News readers that we'll be taking a break next week but will be back with our regular newsletter on May 31. 

--Max & Lauren