Aston Martin has achieved a significant milestone in its storied 112-year history by receiving a Royal Warrant by Appointment to His Majesty The King, marking the first time the brand’s iconic wings will be displayed alongside the British sovereign’s royal crest. This prestigious recognition underscores the longstanding and esteemed relationship between Aston Martin and the Royal Family, highlighting the brand’s commitment to British design, craftsmanship, and engineering excellence.
Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin, expressed profound pride in this appointment, emphasizing its historic significance and the brand’s dedication to the values championed by His Majesty. The Royal Warrant, now incorporated into Aston Martin’s branding, serves as a testament to the hard work and unwavering commitment of the company’s employees.
While the official confirmation of the Royal Warrant occurred in May 2024, Aston Martin has only recently begun to integrate the Royal Arms into its branding, following the release of the new Royal Crest for King Charles III by the College of Arms. The College of Arms, established in 1484, is responsible for maintaining official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees, with its heralds serving as members of the Royal Household under Crown authority.
This new Royal Warrant builds upon Aston Martin’s recent recognition with the King’s Award for Enterprise in 2024, honouring the company’s innovation. The brand’s association with the Royal Family spans eight decades, beginning in 1954 when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, took delivery of a Lagonda. The following year, Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, acquired an Aston Martin DB2/4, the same model that had achieved victory in the 1955 Monte Carlo rally.
However, it is The King’s cherished DB6 Volante that has become a symbol of the Royal Family’s enduring connection with Aston Martin’s hand-built British sports cars. The King has been a member of the Aston Martin Owners Club since 1973, and the brand has held a Royal Warrant as a Motor Car Manufacturer and Repairer to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales since 1982. This new appointment marks the first time Aston Martin carries the arms of the sovereign.
In recent years, the DB6 Volante played a prominent role in the 2011 wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, capturing the attention of thousands of onlookers. In 2020, as Prince of Wales, His Majesty officially inaugurated Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art DBX SUV manufacturing facility in St Athan, Wales, marking the production of the first car built in the principality in over 50 years.
In 2022, The King and Queen used the same vehicle for their grand entrance at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. More recently, in 2024, the DB6 Volante was showcased at Sandringham during an Aston Martin Owners Club gathering, which featured over 75 Aston Martin models. This event served as a fitting celebration for a brand now honoured with a Royal Warrant by Appointment to the monarch.
