It was the sweet-toothed love affair between the Royal family and one of Britain’s most adored chocolatiers.
But after surviving 170 years and the reign of six monarchs, confectionery giant Cadbury’s link to British royalty appears to have lost its sugary appeal.
The chocolate juggernaut based in Bourneville, Birmingham, was among 100 companies to lose out on an official endorsement from ‘The Firm’, after being stripped of its Royal Warrant status.
King Charles ripped away its globally-recognised mark of excellence after choosing not to renew it.
It comes after the company’s recent takeover by an American snack giant led to claims Cadbury had ‘betrayed its heritage’, by introducing bizarre new recipes and shrinking bars – while outsourcing its chocolate production abroad.
Queen Victoria first awarded Cadbury its Royal Warrant in 1854 – which was then repeated by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1955, who was a massive fan of the brand.
She loved Cadbury’s Bournville chocolate so much, she is believed to have received boxes of it each Christmas.
Yet it is understood the supply of Cadbury products to royal households has slumped in recent years.
King Charles and Queen Camilla – pictured together at the launch of the Coronation Food Project in Didcot, Oxfordshire last month – have issued new Royal Warrants to favoured firms
Chocolate manufacturer Cadbury is one of the companies to have lost their Royal Warrant in the latest list – the firm previously produced a Dairy Milk bar for Charles’ coronation in 2023
King Charles – seen here at the House of Dorchester chocolate factory in Poundbury, Dorset, in November 2015 – has been described as a fitness enthusiast who follows a healthy diet
The King is also known for his healthy eating, preferring a piece of fruit or fibre-rich seeds over a bar of chocolate, seemingly denting its appeal further in the Palace.
As is protocol, the brands losing their Royal Warrant status were informed by letter and not given a reason why.
Other chocolate companies like Nestle, which owns Milkybar, and Smarties as well as Bendicks and Prestat have all retained their titles.
Also missing out this time is consumer goods multinational Unilever, whose products include the likes of Marmite, Magnum ice cream bars and Pot Noodle.
But operations favoured by Charles’s wife Queen Camilla are among the latest beneficiaries of the royal household’s stamp of approval.
Her long-standing hairdresser Jo Hansford’s salon in Mayfair, central London, is among almost 400 businesses in the latest batch of Royal Warrants of Appointment. Also recognised is Wartski jewellers, also based in the capital and which made the King and Queen’s wedding rings for their marriage in April 2005.
The King’s list includes 386 companies previously holding warrants bestowed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and which he has decided to keep on. These range from the official ‘suppliers of Martini Vermouth’, Bacardi-Martini, to Command Pest Control Ltd, Dunelm for soft furnishings, Foodspeed for milk, Kellogg’s for cereals, florist Lottie Longman, and McIlhenny as the official supplier of Tabasco hot sauce.
Being awarded a Royal Warrant is considered a huge advantage for British firms both in the UK and abroad – and losing the stamp of approval has left Cadbury’s owners ‘disappointed’, the firm admitted.
From its humble beginnings as a small grocer’s shop in Birmingham, Cadbury has been delighting the nation’s taste buds for two centuries – while its adverts, including one featuring gorilla drumming to Phil Collins’ hit In The Air Tonight, have become cult British hits.
This year saw the beloved brand behind the likes of Dairy Milk, Flake and Heroes, celebrating its 200th birthday.
The confectionery behemoth was founded by the nation’s very own ‘Willy Wonka’, John Cadbury, in 1824 in Bull Street.
Among the array of goods sold at the grocer’s shop, John introduced hand-made drinking chocolate which laid the foundation for the brand today.
Cadbury famously produced an advert which proved one of the most popular ever. It featured a gorilla playing the drums to Phil Collins’ bombastic hit ‘In The Air Tonight’
The King’s latest list of Royal Warrants includes 386 companies which had previously been approved by his late mother Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) which he has decided to keep on
A bust of King Charles III was made of Celebrations chocolates in April 2023 ahead of his coronation – these products are manufactured by Cadbury’s competitor Mars
In 2018, Cadbury Dairy Milk was crowned as Britain’s favourite chocolate bar, proving the confectionery’s lasting appeal
Read More A glass and a half for 200 years: From John Cadbury’s small Quaker shop to global empire – inside the story of Cadbury’s as it turns 200 years old
John saw cocoa as a healthy alternative to alcohol – something as a Quaker, he was keen to encourage.
He was originally a tea dealer and coffee roaster but he also sold hops, mustard, patent cocoa and cocoa nibs.
To entice wealthy customers in, the shop was the first in Birmingham to have plate glass windows with mahogany frames which John is said to have cleaned every day.
The shop had attractive displays including Chinese vases and oriental figurines that contained black and green tea.
With a commitment to quality and innovation, Cadbury rapidly expanded, captivating Britons with its irresistible treats.
John started selling different types of cocoa and moved to a factory on Bridge Street, Birmingham in 1831.
By 1864 the company was being run by John’s sons, Richard and George, and the brothers were keen to distinguish themselves from other cocoa and chocolate manufacturers.
A purer, more luxurious drinking chocolate called Cocoa Essence was introduced by the pair in 1866.
The man behind the chocolate: John Cadbury, who founded Cadbury’s in 1824, is pictured in a black and white portrait
By 1864 the company was being run by John’s sons, Richard and George, and the brothers were keen to distinguish themselves from other cocoa and chocolate manufacturers
