Cadbury, the iconic British chocolate maker, has been removed from King Charles’s Royal Warrant list for the first time in 170 years. The brand, which was first granted royal approval by Queen Victoria in 1854, was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II until her passing in 2022.
However, under King Charles, Cadbury is one of 100 companies that have had their royal warrants revoked, as part of the latest list released by Buckingham Palace’s Royal Warrant Holders Association.
This marks the second such list published since King Charles ascended the throne. The list includes notable removals, such as luxury chocolatier Charbonnel et Walker Ltd and multinational conglomerate Unilever, which produces popular products like Marmite, Magnum ice creams, and Pot Noodles. Only Bendicks and Prestat remain as chocolatiers with royal warrants, while Nestlé continues its association with the royal family.
The decision to strip Cadbury of its warrant is a blow for Mondelēz UK, the chocolate maker’s owner, whose profits fell by a third in 2023 to £88.1 million. Cadbury, founded in 1824 in Birmingham, was controversially acquired by U.S. company Kraft in 2010, and later became part of Mondelēz International. The brand had also been targeted by campaigners advocating for King Charles to distance himself from companies still operating in Russia, as Mondelēz International was accused of indirectly supporting Russia’s war efforts through its operations in the country.
While Cadbury and other brands were informed of the decision by letter, the reasons for the revocation were not disclosed. The affected companies have been given 12 months to remove royal warrant-related branding from their products. Some firms, however, have gained warrants for the first time, including those associated with Queen Camilla, such as hairdresser Jo Hansford and Wartski jewellers, who crafted the royal couple’s wedding rings in 2005.
In response, Mondelēz International expressed disappointment but emphasized its respect for the decision, reaffirming Cadbury’s longstanding place in British culture. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on individual royal warrants.
