The obtaining of a Royal Warrant is a very big deal for many businesses. It is more than a seal of approval, it's evidence that anyone buying that product or service has something in common with the monarch.

Cadbury's has had a Royal Warrent for 170 years. Since the company was taken over by US conglomerate Kraft and then transferred to its Mondelez International, division, assurances that the quality of the product would be maintained have not been adhered to and there is much public ire about it. Originally granted by Queen Victoria, the most recent renewal was by the late QEII.

But that's not why the Warrant is not being renewed: it's because Mondelez International is doing business in Russia and there are concerns that there should be no hint of the warrant being used for political purposes.

Cadbury was created by one of a number of families who took their social responsibilities very seriously, building model housing for staff and high standards in workplaces. Another was the Leverhulme family, founders of what became Lever Brothers and is now part of Dutch group Unilever.

Unilever has likewise lost its Royal Warrant as a result of doing business in Russia.

There is evidence that it's not all about quality. Despite its persistent sabotage of Blend 37 coffee, changing the recipe, poor quality lids, reduced jar size and restricting distribution, Nestle abandoned the best ever instant coffee in 2021, shortly after the most recent Warrant was granted. That, on its own, should have been enough to cancel it.