Launer London, the iconic British heritage leather goods house, has been granted a Royal Warrant by appointment to Queen Camilla for handbags and leather goods – a continuation of the brand’s longstanding royal legacy.
Established in 1941, Launer is synonymous with timeless elegance, expert craftmanship and British tradition. Every piece is handcrafted by skilled artisans in Walsall, West Midlands, a region known for its leather-working heritage.
Launer’s reputation has been built on its signature top-handle bags, refined silhouettes, and enduring appeal.
The brand achieved global recognition thanks in large part to Queen Elizabeth II, who famously carried Launer handbags for decades.
Her Late Majesty awarded the company a Royal Warrant in 1968, which remained in place until her death in 2022, making Queen Camilla’s recent honour all the more poignant.
In a touching tribute, Camilla carried Launer’s Tosca clutch at Elizabeth II’s funeral.
She has since continued to carry the same clutch at a number of high-profile events, including the Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol concert and King Charles III’s first state visit.
What many may not know is that Camilla has been a quiet patron of Launer for more than two decades. She even carried one of the brand’s bags for her wedding to Charles in 2005.
Launer London, the iconic British heritage leather goods house, has been granted a Royal Warrant by appointment to Queen Camilla for handbags and leather goods
The brand achieved global recognition thanks in large part to Queen Elizabeth II, who famously carried Launer handbags for decades
In 2020, she visited Launer’s factory in Walsall, where she was welcomed by CEO Gerald Bodmer. There, she was shown the traditional handcrafting processes behind each piece and met the artisans responsible for creating the bags.
During her visit, Camilla was presented with a black leather Judi bag from the Legacy Collection, a curated line featuring seven of the brand’s bestselling styles – all originally designed over 30 years ago and still loved today.
Elizabeth’s own connection to Launer ran even deeper. She carried one of their classic styles at nearly every public engagement during her 70-year reign.
In fact, she is seen holding a Launer handbag in the very last photograph taken of her at Balmoral, just two days before her death at age 96.
Elizabeth’s handbags were not just fashion statements – they were part of her persona.
According to royal biographers, her bags contained a well-known selection of essentials: a crossword puzzle, a mirror, lipstick, a fountain pen, mints and her reading glasses.
Reports also mention a neatly folded banknote for Sunday church offerings, and even small charms or keepsakes gifted by her children, such as miniature dogs and horses.
Launer’s royal association dates back to the 1950s, when Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother became an early customer and gifted one of their handbags to her daughter.
Established in 1941, Launer is synonymous with timeless elegance, expert craftmanship and British tradition. Every piece is handcrafted by skilled artisans in Walsall, West Midlands, a region known for its leather-working heritage
In 2020, Camilla visited Launer’s factory in Walsall, where she was welcomed by CEO Gerald Bodmer
Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Launer’s Hackney factory in 1991
What many may not know is that Camilla has been a quiet patron of Launer for more than two decades. She even carried one of the brand’s bags for her wedding to Charles in 2005
Her Late Majesty awarded the company a Royal Warrant in 1968, which remained in place until her death in 2022
Most of Queen Elizabeth’s bags were custom-made with longer handles to accommodate handshaking, and came complete with a matching purse, glasses case and compact mirror
It sparked a seven-decade relationship between Elizabeth and the brand, with its signature handbags quickly becoming a defining accessory in her wardrobe.
Among her favourite styles were the Traviata, Sophia, Violetta, Madelaine, Royale, Bellini, Encore and Jubilee – the latter of which was reissued in 2022 to mark her Platinum Jubilee and originally dated back to 1972.
Most of Queen Elizabeth’s bags were custom-made with longer handles to accommodate handshaking, and came complete with a matching purse, glasses case and compact mirror.
Unlike the brand’s standard suede linings, the Queen’s bags featured woven interiors.
Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth’s dresser, would place bespoke orders each year to ensure consistency in style and functionality.
For major royal occasions, Launer created scaled-down versions of larger styles. One such piece, a smaller version of the Lisa design, was carried by Elizabeth at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011. Her appearance caused a spike in interest and temporarily crashed Launer’s website.
To mark her 85th birthday, Gerald Bodmer gifted the Queen a special evening bag named Faith, crafted from silver leather and featuring a solid silver emblem adorned with zircons.
She carried the shimmering bag to the State Banquet at the Élysée Palace in Paris in 2014 and to the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh in 2016.
Earlier this month, Queen Camilla paid her own tribute to that iconic style. At the State Banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, she carried a silver bag nearly identical to the one gifted to Queen Elizabeth over a decade ago.
In both design and legacy, Launer London continues to reflect the essence of British refinement – and now, with the Royal Warrant of Queen Camilla, that heritage looks set to continue for generations to come.
