The Goring hotel in Kensington, which sprung to fame when it was occupied by the Middleton clan before the Royal Wedding, has been awarded a royal warrant by the Queen.

The family-owned London hotel was the focus of the world's media when Kate Middleton stepped from its doors on her way to marry Prince William.

The Goring Hotel has been awarded a "Royal Warrant of appointment to HM The Queen for Hospitality Services", the hotel said in a statement this week.

Jeremy Goring, whose family built the Belgravia hotel more than 100 years ago, told the Reuters news agaency that he believed it was the first royal warrant ever given to a hotel by Queen Elizabeth. "To be able to display Her Majesty's coat of arms is something that the staff will be enormously proud of," Goring said. "It is made all the more special for us because I believe this is the first Royal Warrant The Queen has ever granted to an hotel."

Royal warrants are a mark of recognition that tradesmen are regular suppliers of goods and services to the royal households, according the official website of the British monarchy. Strict regulations govern the warrant, which allows the grantee or company to use the legend "By Appointment" and display the royal coat of arms on products such as stationery, advertisements and other printed material, in his or her premises and on delivery vehicles.
A stay at the Goring can cost from 290 pounds ($470) per night for a single "queen-bedded" room to 8,400 pounds per night for the two-bedroom royal suite.