A HAWORTH firm has described "the true honour" of being asked to produce the British armed forces' new regimental flags following the accession of King Charles III.

Family-run Wyedean has been awarded the £5 million contract to replace all the standards and colours with a design featuring the King’s insignia and the Tudor crown.

Four of the new flags – created for the Royal Navy, Life Guards, Royal Air Force and Kings Company Grenadier Guards – made their debut appearance in the coronation day royal procession.

And a fifth standard, manufactured for the Blues and Royals, will be on show for the first time on Saturday in King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour as monarch.

Wyedean managing director, Robin Wright, who heads up the company with daughter Rosie Wright, says: "The true honour we feel to be creating such historic and symbolic regimental standards and colours is absolutely incredible. It really is a business high for us all.

"Typically such standards and colours would be renewed every ten to 12 years, but following the passing of the late Queen all military regalia requires updating with King Charles III’s insignia and the Tudor crown.

"There are thousands of hours of craftsmanship needed to complete the high standard of elaborate fabrics ready to present to the armed forces in the years ahead."

Rosie, Wyedean’s business development director, says military colours carry a "major significance" to the British armed forces.

"They were originally introduced in the 1700s to help soldiers determine where their regiment was during the chaos of the battlefield," she adds.

"Colours remain highly symbolic even today and are thought to carry the spirits of all those who fought and died since the founding of their regiment.

"We are very mindful of the importance of the task at hand and recognise this is an incredibly poignant time for all members of our armed forces as they say goodbye to the Queen’s colours and welcome in the new colours from King Charles III.

"This is a historic and momentous task for us and one which we are hugely privileged to be undertaking as we approach our 60th year as a family business."

Family members visited Buckingham Palace in April to see the standards and colours the firm manufactured being consecrated and presented by the King, and a contingent will be at Trooping the Colour to see the Blues and Royals sovereign standard on show.