Wednesday, 6 Nov 2024

Revealed: The shop where you could ‘realistically’ bump into a royal

The Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have all visited the store. The Duchess of Kent, who is married to the Queen’s cousin Prince Edward, is apparently a “real regular”. This shop’s royal links have even earned it the nickname ‘The Queen’s grocer’.

This store is the luxury grocer Fortnum and Mason.

Channel 5’s ‘Inside Fortnum and Mason: The Queen’s Grocer’ said: “Fortnums gets its fair share of royal visitors.

“It is no accident, it’s called the ‘Queen’s Grocer’, as it is the one shop you could realistically bump into a royal, whether it’s Prince Charles, or his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, or the Duchess of Kent, a real regular in the Fortnums aisles.”

In March 2012, the Queen visited the store along with two future Queens: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

It was their first ever joint engagement.

The Royals were given a tour of the shop and were gifted special hampers, the flagship product of the shop, which included treats for their dogs.

Then, they met military personnel and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the refurbishment of Piccadilly.

The three wore varying shades of blue for their visit – the Queen in her usual pastel, Kate isn a steel-blue dress and Camilla in navy.

Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter told Channel 5: “It was a very special occasion for Fortnums and I think a very special occasion for the Queen too in her Diamond Jubilee year.”

Brand expert Marcel Knobil added: “To have [the Queen] seen walking through your doors is such an impressive endorsement and one that any retailer would be delighted to have.”

Meanwhile, Prince Charles has been to the store multiple times including in May this year for the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards.

Charles was awarded the Special Award in recognition of his commitment to supporting food and farming communities in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Kent is apparently a “regular”, implying she goes and does her own grocery shopping in the luxury department store.

Mr Arbiter pointed out: “Royals don’t go into shops so it’s unique that Fortnums had so many visits in such a short time.”

It is not just royalty that shop in Fortnum and Mason either – pop culture stars have also been spotted.

Former employees at the store recalled the famous names that have passed through the doors.

These include the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, The Beatles’ Ringo Star, musician Liberace and singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.

They also recalled serving actor Alec Guiness, comedian Michael Caine and actress Joan Collins.

One employee remembered Julie Andrews once called up from Switzerland to order a hamper for a friend in London.

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