Decision to cancel relationship with luxury lingerie retailer follows publication of director’s book Storm in a D Cup last year
A lingerie retailer that supplied underwear to the Queen has been stripped of its royal warrant reportedly because the firm’s director wrote a book revealing details of her work with the royal family.
Rigby & Peller had held the title since 1960 but confirmed it was “deeply saddened” by the royal household warrants committee’s decision to cancel it.
June Kenton, director of the London-based firm, published Storm in a D Cup in March last year. It has been reported the decision to cancel the warrant is linked with revelations in the book, though neither the palace nor the company would confirm that.
Kenton regularly visited Buckingham Palace and served members of the royal family, including the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, and her autobiography provided some detail about her working relationship with them.
Rigby & Peller said: “The royal household warrants committee has decided to cancel the royal warrant granted to Rigby & Peller and Mrs June Kenton.
“Rigby & Peller is deeply saddened by this decision and is not able to elaborate further on the cancellation out of respect for Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Warrant Holders Association.
“However, the company will continue to provide an exemplary and discreet service to its clients.”
Buckingham Palace said it did not comment on individual companies.
Kenton, from Bushey in Hertfordshire, bought Rigby & Peller with her husband in 1982 for £20,000, before selling a majority stake in 2011 for £8m, although she remains on the board.
Kenton has told reporters she never discusses what happens in a fitting room, though the book does recount her first meeting with the monarch and her trepidation about being ushered into the royal bedroom.
The 82-year-old said losing the warrant “absolutely killed” her and that she regretted “not being wise enough” to omit mention of the royals in her autobiography.