COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥� Denmark鈥檚 royal court said Wednesday it will phase out a labeling system dating to the 1800s that grants companies the right to use the image of the Danish crown on their letterhead, packaging and labels.
The five-year renewable designations, including 鈥淗older of the Royal Warrant鈥� and 鈥淏y Appointment to the Royal Danish Court鈥� and others, will be phased out by Dec. 31, 2029, the palace said in a statement.
Currently, there are 104 Danish suppliers and five foreign companies who can use such designations and images of the Danish crown on their products.
鈥淎 system which implies that individual companies can claim special recognition from the Royal House of Denmark for a number of years is no longer in keeping with the times,鈥� the palace said in a statement.
The title was first granted to a company in 1840. Originally, such designations were given to companies or tradesmen who continually supplied goods or services to the royals. In recent years, however, several of the companies which supply goods or services to the royal household are not on the list of Royal Warrant holders.
King Frederik took over Denmark's throne last January after his mother, , then Europe鈥檚 longest-serving monarch, became the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Margrethe had stunned the nation when she announced during her traditional New Year鈥檚 Eve speech that for health reasons.
The abdication has left Denmark with two queens: Margrethe keeps her title, while Frederik鈥檚 . Frederik and Mary鈥檚 eldest son Christian, 18, is now the crown prince and heir to the throne.
The Associated Press
