Nestled deep within the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands, the village of Aberlour in Speyside sticks out for plenty of causes. Speckled with whimsical storybook cottages and residential to probably the most maximum iconic whiskey distilleries, the world has masses to shout about. However one sniff of the air and its true crown jewel is published. Deliciously thick with the scent of baking biscuits, the plush inexperienced panorama is cloaked within the aroma of Walker’s shortbread, a circle of relatives industry that has stood the check of time for over 125 years – and one who has some very well-known blue-blooded enthusiasts.
The Walkers’ headquarters helps to keep watch over the sleepy village in a grand area are compatible for the present king. Aberlour Space used to be as soon as the junior faculty of Gordonstoun College, King Charles’ alma mater. Whilst it now acts because the places of work for the brains at the back of the shortbread biscuit, its tartan carpeted halls previously noticed the king be informed and increase as a tender boy. In all probability it got here as no marvel to the emblem that Charles would develop as much as change into a large fan of its produce and has been again to seek advice from the web page time and again.
‘One thing small, however indulgent’
On the helm of nowadays’s industry, one of the crucial Walker circle of relatives’s fourth era, Bryony Walker, published the King’s specific style relating to candy and savoury treats. All the way through a seek advice from to Aberlour, she shared her recollections of assembly with Charles and advised HELLO!: “The King has his very particular favorite biscuits. There are even biscuits that we are not making anymore that he would sometimes request, and so we would possibly make a distinct run for him.” She discussed that right through his seek advice from, the King stopped to pattern a number of their vary and took a excursion of the manufacturing unit.
A biscuit steeped in royal historical past
The Walkers and the royal circle of relatives proportion extra than simply an identical palettes. The logo’s historical past is dotted with royal visits and affiliations, together with a Royal Warrant for shortbread and oatcakes first awarded by way of Queen Elizabeth II after which carried over by way of her son, King Charles. Whilst sitting round an exquisite darkish oak desk in a decadent sitting room decorated with awards and relics from the previous, HELLO! used to be proven a customer’s e-book relationship again to the 80s with signatures from Charles and Camilla right through a seek advice from to the HQ.
“I feel they prefer our historical past and our heritage and the truth that we’ve got accomplished it for a long time,” Bryony surmised when requested why she concept the Royals have been this kind of fan of her circle of relatives’s companies. “They search for high quality merchandise which are made from actual substances, they usually in reality search for that excellent high quality, scrumptious devour. Even the royal circle of relatives are on the lookout for a deal with every so often!”
© Weber Shandwick
© PA Pictures by way of Getty PicturesAberlour Space has noticed the King go thru its halls greater than as soon as, as a boy and as a running royal. Remembering his seek advice from, Walker’s personnel contributors laughed after they stated the king famous how a lot hotter the brand new HQ construction used to be in comparison to that of its former existence as a schoolhouse. The King used to be in Aberlour in 2001 along with his spouse Camilla to open a brand new Walker’s manufacturing unit that sits on the property’s gates on the backside of the hill.
© Getty Pictures
© Getty PicturesPointing to a plaque at the wall that bore the titles of the King when he used to be visiting Scotland (as a prince on the time) – the Duke of Rothesay – it used to be famous with satisfaction that he had come and hung out there, talking with the personnel and greeting each and every member in my view. With a grin, Bryony stated: “Now we have numerous shared values with them [Royals] as a industry in addition to a product which they love. We are so, so proud to have that form of affiliation with the royal circle of relatives over time.”
Walker’s are sharing the enjoyment of shortbread this Christmas – seek advice from their festive store and revel in the similar much-loved recipe loved in every single place each Christmas since 1898.
