The royal palace has made its annual announcement of official suppliers of goods and services to the royal household. Newcomers to the list, each of whom is allowed to use the phrase “certified court supplier to the King” to describe its business, cover a range of different businesses. They include wine and champagne merchant Vranken-Pommery, jeweller and watchmaker Cosyns, porcelain maker Caroline de Pierpont, and Queen Mathilde’s personal hairdressers, D&R Cambre. Perhaps the most surprising new addition is the DIY store Clabots, situated on the Quai des Industries alongside the canal in Brussels.
They join a list that includes tried and tested names such as clothes designer Natan – a favourite of Mathilde’s public appearances -- biscuit makers Delacre and waffles manufacturer Jules De Strooper, as well as Bpost, Shell and pest-control company Rentokil.
There is no monetary gain in being named an official supplier, only prestige. The certificate is awarded initially for five years, but can be renewed. And a court spokesperson stressed that there is no exclusivity attached.
“The royal household regularly calls upon the businesses in question for goods and services, but certainly has no exclusivity contract with them.” In other words, the option to buy different biscuits or, given recent events, to use different postal delivery services, remains open to the royals.
The Brussels Times
The newcomers to the list will be invited to a reception at the royal palace on 22 November.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
