Royal Warrants are granted to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for a minimum of five years to the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh or the Prince of Wales.

Warrant holders represent a large cross-section of British trade and industry including suppliers of a variety of products and services ranging from agricultural machinery and computer software; from dry cleaners to fishmongers and of course suppliers of quality ceramics. Spode is one of the companies whose records of Royal Warrants goes back for many years.

In the year 2003 there are 800 warrant holders holding 1,100 warrants (some companies have more than one Royal warrant).

The history of Spode and The Royal Warrants of Appointment is as follows :
· 1806 - the first Royal Warrant was awarded to Josiah Spode II following a visit by the Prince of Wales and The Duke of Clarence to the Spode works in Stoke. He was appointed Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
· 1820 - Potter to H.M. King George IV
· 1866 - Manufacturers of China and Glass to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
· 1901 - Manufacturers of China to H. M. King Edward VII
· 1910 - Purveyors of China to H.M. King George V
· 1938 - Purveyors of China to H.M. Queen Mary
· 1971 - Manufacturers of China to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.