King Charles removes royal warrant from Russian-linked firms in crack down on holders that have continued to do business in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/05/12/king-removes-royal-warrant-from-russian-linked-firms/
by TheTelegraph
8 comments
**From The Telegraph’s Senior News Reporter, Patrick Sawer and Daniel Woolfson:**
Buckingham Palace has stripped two businesses with ties to Russia of their [royal warrants](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/12/28/fashion-brands-royal-warrant-cull-king-charles/) amid a major review of suppliers to the Royal family.
Following the review, two companies who have Russian operations and had previously been awarded a warrant by [Charles as Prince of Wales](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/king-charles/), do not appear on the new list of the King’s warrant holders.
These are healthcare product firm Kimberly-Clark and electronics company Samsung.
It comes amid a [major review of almost 800 royal warrants](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/0/who-will-make-the-cut-for-a-royal-warrant-from-the-king/) that was triggered by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
A number of other [companies with links to Russia](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/03/russia-related-products-should-boycott/) who hold royal warrants will only hear their fate once the review of those awarded by the late Queen has been completed.
The decision to remove royal warrants from Kimberly-Clark and Samsung comes after King Charles was urged to crack down on holders that have continued to do business in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.
Campaigners had written to the King drawing attention to companies to whom both he and other members of the Royal family had previously awarded warrants and still had ties to Russia, but had yet to receive a response.
# ‘Lost opportunity to save lives’
A spokesman for B4 Ukraine, a coalition of pro-Ukrainian organisations, said: “The palace’s silence on the 14 royal warrant holders still doing business in Russia is a lost opportunity to save human lives in Ukraine. Every pound paid in corporation tax helps sustain the Kremlin’s war economy and its army’s abuses.
“We urge the royal house to reconsider our request at this critical point in Ukraine’s fight for its survival and independence.”
Firms with links to Russia given a royal warrant by Queen Elizabeth also include Nestle, Unilever, Cadbury (owned by Mondelez), Reckitt and flooring manufacturer Forbo.
Mondelez itself was not awarded a warrant but Cadbury has been a warrant holder since 1854 when it was awarded by Queen Victoria.
Nestle, Mondelez, Unilever and Bacardi have been accused of being “international sponsors of war” by the Ukrainian government, which until recently published a list of companies it deemed to be indirectly funding the war.
**Article Link:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/05/12/king-removes-royal-warrant-from-russian-linked-firms/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/05/12/king-removes-royal-warrant-from-russian-linked-firms/)
>While Mondelez has pledged more than $15 million (£12 million) in financial support for Ukrainian citizens and discontinued advertising and new product launches in Russia, Dirk Van de Put, its chief executive, claimed in February that **investors do not “morally care”** about it continuing to do business in Russia.
and this is why unregulated or lightly regulated capitalism is a Bad Thing.
God save the King!
God save the King!
2 years too late
Up to date list of companies still operating in Russia: https://som.yale.edu/story/2022/over-1000-companies-have-curtailed-operations-russia-some-remain
There are still a ton of European companies “Digging in” in Russia:
https://www.yalerussianbusinessretreat.com/
(Filters: Grade is Digging in; Country is not “China”, not “India”)
Thank you Charles III, you are my best friend,
You are the peacekeeper, you are the legend.