BLUE-blooded East Lancashire publicans today toasted the monarchy despite the indiscretions that have made a major airline drop the "Royal" tag from one of their services.

Britain's biggest holiday airline Britannia Airways has abandoned its high class "Royal Service" because bosses feel it no longer conveys the right image.

The four-year-old brand-name, featuring red, white and blue livery will now be phased out next year.

But today, Mr Martin Hughes, landlord of the Royal Hotel in Station Road, Great Harwood, said his pub would not be losing its 130-year-old monicker.

He added: "I'm no monarchist, but I won't be changing the name of the pub simply because the current heir to the throne has been a little foolish." And Phil Bennison of The Royal Arms at Tockholes said he and the brewery were even contemplating hanging a new picture sign featuring the Royal Coat of Arms.

He said: "The pub has had royal connections for 100 years. I have been here for three.

"To be honest I don't really think of it as supporting the monarchy, I think it is just a classy name. I'm no royalist but I won't be changing the name.

"We would like to use the royal coat of arms but we are not sure whether we will be allowed to because of copyright problems."

The area also has a Royal Hotel at Rossendale and Royal Arms pubs at Accrington and Tockholes.

There is also a Royal Duke Hotel in Blackburn.

Britannia's public relations chief said: "We have done some market research and have found that the name 'royal' no longer has the kudos and the positive associations it had when we introduced it on flights in 1992."

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