King Charles Visits Chiswick to Mark Sanderson's Centenary
Royal Warrant holder now based in Barley Mow Passage
The King unveiled a commemorative plaque — revealed from behind a curtain made from the collection's own 'Highgrove Toile' fabric
May 18, 2026
The King toured the restored Arts & Crafts headquarters of Sanderson Design Group, viewing a William Morris wallpaper made for Balmoral and watching traditional block printing techniques still practised today
King Charles III visited Voysey House in Chiswick this Monday (18 May) to mark a century of one of Britain's most celebrated design houses holding a Royal Warrant — a milestone that stretches from the reign of his grandfather to his own.
The visit to the headquarters of Sanderson Design Group in Voysey House in Barley Mow Passage celebrated Sanderson's 100 years as a Royal Warrant holder, an honour first granted in 1924 and renewed by His Majesty in December 2024. The King was welcomed by Group CEO Lisa Montague and Chairman Dame Dianne Thompson before embarking on a tour of the striking Grade II* listed building.
Voysey House is itself a piece of design history. Commissioned for Arthur Sanderson & Sons and designed by the celebrated Arts & Crafts architect C. F. A. Voysey — whose name the building now bears — the former wallpaper factory fell into a long chapter of separation from its original occupants after a devastating fire destroyed an adjacent factory in 1928. The building has since been meticulously restored by owners Dorrington and architects dMFK, honouring Voysey's original design ethos while improving its environmental performance. Monday's royal visit marked Sanderson's homecoming to its historic Chiswick premises in particularly fitting style.
King Charles on Barley Mow Passage by the entrance of Voysey House. Picture: Giles Orringe
A highlight of the tour was a display of items drawn from the Group's extraordinary archive — a collection comprising more than 75,000 records dating back to the 1600s. Among the pieces laid out for the King's inspection was a sample of the 'VRI Cypher' wallpaper, designed by William Morris for Balmoral in 1887, and photographs documenting the Duke of York's visit to the same Chiswick factory a hundred years ago in 1924.
His Majesty with Sanderson Design Group’s Archive Lead - Sanderson Design Group - Picture: Claire Menary
Staff also gave a demonstration of traditional block printing using the iconic Morris & Co. 'Golden Lily' design — a labour-intensive craft technique that Sanderson Design Group continues to offer today through its Anstey Wallpaper Company in Loughborough.
In the design studios, His Majesty met the creative teams responsible for the Group's portfolio of heritage brands. A particular focus was the Highgrove by Sanderson collection, developed in partnership with The King's Foundation as custodian of Highgrove Gardens. Design Director Claire Vallis and Sanderson Head of Design Rebecca Craig presented new patterns from the range, including 'The King's Rose' — a design due to launch at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026.
The King with Lisa Montague, Claire Vallis and Sanderson Designers - Sanderson Design Group - Picture: Claire Menary
The pattern takes its inspiration from a fuchsia and white striped-petal rose developed for His Majesty by David Austin® Roses, translated into wallcovering form through an early 20th-century design drawn from the Sanderson archive. It is the kind of connection between living garden, royal heritage and historic craft that the collaboration was built to celebrate.
To mark the occasion, the King unveiled a commemorative plaque — revealed from behind a curtain made from the collection's own 'Highgrove Toile' fabric, a quietly theatrical touch that neatly encapsulated the day's themes of continuity, craft and royal patronage.
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