By Royal Appointment
It all began in 2019, although at the time we didn’t realise we were taking the first steps on a journey that would lead to one of the proudest moments in our 30-year history.
The enquiry was simple enough: Sandringham Estate needed support designing and producing a range of welcome and wayfinding signs. Of course, we were delighted to be approached, but as with every project, our focus was not on who the client was, but on what the location needed.
We began as we always do, by listening, sketching, exploring ideas and considering how people would experience the landscape. Colour palettes, materials, durability, sustainability and setting all had to work together. The signs needed to be practical, but they also needed to feel as though they belonged.
That has always mattered to me.
When I started Fitzpatrick Woolmer in 1995, it was my passion for illustration and design, combined with a love of natural history and heritage, that shaped the direction of the business. I could never have imagined then that one day our work would be recognised in this way. We have been fortunate to work with incredible clients in remarkable places, but receiving a Royal Warrant is something very special indeed.
What makes it particularly meaningful is that the journey has not been about changing who we are. If anything, the process has reminded me how deeply our values are already embedded in the business.
The Royal Warrant application is rightly rigorous. It asks serious questions about quality, service, sustainability, responsibility and consistency. It is not simply about supplying a product; it is about demonstrating a sustained commitment to doing things properly. As we worked through the process, I found myself reflecting on the standards we have built over many years, our commitment to craftsmanship, our choice of materials, our desire to reduce environmental impact and our belief that every client deserves our very best.
Our work with Sandringham Estate has also allowed us to celebrate traditional skills in a very tangible way. We have been able to incorporate carefully considered materials, including oak sourced from within the Estate itself, giving new life and purpose to timber that once stood as part of the landscape. We also worked with a local signwriter to apply graphics by hand, bringing a sense of craft and authenticity to the finished pieces.
Those details matter. They connect the finished signs not only to the place, but to the people, skills and stories behind them.
To be granted a Royal Warrant is an enormous honour, but it does not change who we are. It is a recognition of the journey we have been on, 30 years of learning, improving, refining and staying true to the principles that matter to us.
I am incredibly grateful that Fitzpatrick Woolmer has been chosen for this honour, and deeply proud of the team whose skill, care and dedication make moments like this possible.
For me, this milestone is not an end point.
It is a reminder to keep going, keep improving and keep creating work worthy of the places and people we serve.
