Proper news from Britain - News from Britain you won’t find anywhere else. Not the tosh the big media force-feed you every day!
It was once the case that a single royal appearance in Windsor-approved attire could propel a little-known label into the global spotlight overnight, flooding it with orders and cementing its place in the style pages.
And yet, in recent years, the royal halo effect has lost its power to shield British brands from harsh economic realities.
Time and again, once-celebrated names, blessed with high-profile royal endorsements and in some cases even the prestigious royal warrant, have crumbled under the weight of modern retail pressures.
From global inflation to the rise of online shopping, and pandemic-related disruptions to the fickle cycles of fashion itself, these companies discovered the hard way that even royal patronage could not guarantee survival.
Take Cefinn, the sleek workwear brand founded by Samantha Cameron, once hailed as the epitome of understated confidence.
With both the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla spotted in her designs, the label looked destined for longevity.
But just eight years after its glittering debut, Cefinn announced it would be shutting its doors, unable to withstand mounting costs, dwindling consumer confidence, and a market more ruthless than ever.
Cefinn
Vampire's Wife
Hunter
Issa
Seraphine
Orla Kiely
Ted Baker
Cefinn is far from alone. Over the past decade, a roll call of once-prominent labels, from Hunter Boots to The Vampire's Wife, have all collapsed, scaled back, or been forced into administration.
All had, at one time or another, basked in the glow of royal approval. The Princess of Wales's fondness for Issa's famous wrap dress made the label a household name overnight.
Yet this backing couldn't shield them from the same financial storms battering the wider retail industry.
In today's climate, a royal mention is no longer a golden ticket. At best, it brings a brief surge in sales. At worst, it places unbearable pressure on a brand that may not have the infrastructure to cope with global demand.
The so-called 'Kate effect' may empty shelves for a week, but it cannot sustain long-term growth.