In today’s edition of “job openings you never thought you’d see in your lifetime,” the queen is now hiring for a bra fitter.
After nearly 60 years, the queen’s lingerie supplier, Rigby & Peller, is out, having lost their royal warrant, which is issued to tradespeople and companies who regularly supply goods or services to the monarchy.
But what happened?
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June Kenton, who is on the board for the luxury underwear firm and began working with the queen in the early ’80s, published the book Storm in a D-Cup in March 2017 that cost her the title of the queen’s official corsetiere. According to the BBC, Kenton was told six months ago Buckingham Palace “didn’t like the book,” which gave details of her royal visits.
Serving members of the royal family, including the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, Kenton regularly visited Buckingham Palace.
“I’m very sad Buckingham Palace took exception to the story,” Kenton said in a statement. “It’s a kind and gentle story about what went on in my life. I only ever said I went there, not what happened. I have never, ever spoken about what I do there with her, or the Queen Mother or Princess Margaret.”
Book signing tonight #nottinghill#booklaunch#autobiography#junekenton@NottingHillBook from 7 pm see you there ! #storminaDcuppic.twitter.com/YilHdAOp0U
— June Kenton (@june_kenton) March 30, 2017
Kenton continues to call the incident “unbelievable.”
“It’s just upsetting at the end of my life, but what can I do,” she says. “I can’t fight with Buckingham Palace, and I wouldn’t want to, but it’s hard. I’ve been honorable throughout my life. It’s unbelievable they don’t like the book, there’s nothing in it that they could remotely be upset about. It’s a sweet story of a corsetiere. I probably should have submitted it to them, but I didn’t think anything would be required.”
Rigby & Peller also responded via statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by the decision and was “not able to elaborate further on the cancellation out of respect for her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Warrant Holders Association.”
Now that Rigby & Peller are out, how does one get a royal warrant? It’s all up to the monarchy, and it’s a long process.
According to the Royal Warrant Holders Association website, companies have to supply the royal family with goods or services for at least five years before they can apply for a warrant. The queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales make up the grantors, who award royal warrants. Once a royal warrant is granted, it is good for five years. After five years, the warrant must be reviewed again.
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To whomever nabs the coveted title of the queen’s next corsetiere: Resist the urge to write your experience.
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