Darwen-based Crown Paints and Nelson’s Peter Reed are two Lancashire businesses that proudly feature the late monarch’s coveted coat of arms on their stores and packaging.

The Royal Warrant shows a company provides goods and services to the monarch.

Now, the firms have two years to remove the coat of arms from their products, unless King Charles chooses to reissue the Royal Warrant.

Crown Paints, the 170-year-old paints and coatings firm based in Darwen, has held the prestigious warrant for 73 years, and is currently in the process of removing the royal coat of arms from all products.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph Katie McLean, Crown Paints marketing director for UK and Ireland, said: “We are honoured to have held the Royal Warrant for 73 years in recognition of our product quality, passion and industry experience.

“We are incredibly proud of the projects we were part of in the Royal Households during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“As the period of her Royal Warrant has now ended we are beginning a process of planning the removal of her royal coat of arms from our products and marketing material, whilst in tandem applying for the current Royal Warrant from King Charles III. 

“We hope that His Majesty, like his mother before him, will choose to reissue the Royal Warrant.

"We relish the opportunity to work with the Royal Households wherever possible and remain committed to our many community and sustainability projects, which are part of the DNA of our business at Crown.”

• READ MORE: PICTURES: The Queen's visit to Crown Paints in Darwen

Back in 1968 the Queen visited Crown Paints’ head office in Darwen. She was given a tour and even met some designers.

The Queen following her tour of the Crown Paints head office in 1968 (Image: Newsquest archive)

Peter Reed, a luxury bed and table linen manufacturers based in Nelson, received its Royal Warrant in 2008 after supplying bed sheets and pillow cases to the Queen’s principal London residence for five years.

The company has been operating since 1861 and aims to craft “unmistakable and priceless” pieces that bring “comfort, bliss and genuine intimacy that embraces you every time you rest in [their] linens.”

When contacted for further information about the firm's history with the Monarch and if it would be re-applying for a warrant from King Charles, the company declined to comment further.

How does a firm obtain a Royal Warrant?

Firms are eligible for a Royal Warrant if they supply products or services on a regular and ongoing basis to the Royal Households for not less than five years out of the past seven.

Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they have an appropriate environmental and sustainability policy and action plan.

The distinctive image of the royal coat of arms depicts the lion of England, unicorn of Scotland and a shield divided into four quarters followed by the words “by appointment to Her Majesty the Queen”.

Around 30 Royal Warrants are granted a year, and the same number are withdrawn.

There are approximately 875 Royal Warrants at any one time, held by around 800 companies or individuals, but it changes almost monthly.

A Royal Warrant is usually granted for up to five years and reviewed in the year before it is due to expire so that a decision can be made as to whether it should be renewed for another period of up to five years.

Other brands and food and drink firms who were granted warrants by the late Queen Elizabeth II include Premier Foods, Unilever, British Sugar, Britvic, Martini, Dubonnet, Johnnie Walker, The Famous Grouse owner Matthew Gloag & Son, Gordon’s and Pimm’s.