Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, is facing criticism after refusing to say whether King Charles is a white Briton, despite his family firm holding a royal warrant. The former Southampton FC chairman and MP for Great Yarmouth is a director of Lowe & Oliver, an electrical contractor appointed as a royal warrant holder by the King earlier this year.
BBC interview sparks controversy
In an interview on BBC's Today programme with Nick Robinson, Mr Lowe struggled to clarify his position on the Monarch's ethnicity. The discussion followed Mr Lowe's claim in a video that "white Britons will become a minority by 2063," where he offered to work with Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Mr Robinson noted that the forecast defines a white Briton as someone whose parents were both born in the UK, and pointed out that King Charles' father, Prince Philip, was born in Greece. He asked Mr Lowe directly: "Do you think he is a white Briton?"
Mr Lowe responded: "Well, many people have different interpretations of that, Nick. I mean, we can split hairs." When pressed, he added: "The experience of what we're talking about is quite clear and I think most British people, if you speak to them, would agree."
Royal expert calls for warrant removal
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Telegraph that a royal warrant is a "huge privilege" and that it is "disgraceful for someone to make comments about the King that are quite so ridiculous." He suggested the warrant should be removed if the King is insulted, and the palace may consider that.
Lowe & Oliver, founded by Mr Lowe's grandfather, has held a royal warrant since 1995, first from Elizabeth II and renewed by King Charles in 2025, citing the company's "exceptional service and craftsmanship" to the royal household. The firm has worked on royal buildings including Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Restore Britain defends Lowe
A Restore spokesman told The Telegraph that the "disgraceful onslaught" against Mr Lowe continues, "even dragging his family business into it, which has just celebrated 100 years in the electrical and mechanical contracting/maintenance industry." The spokesman called it a "remarkable achievement" and "exactly the type of small business this country should be supporting."
