A Royal Visit: Her Majesty Queen Camilla celebrates 90 years of Marlborough Tiles

On Friday 23rd October 2026, we had the great honour of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Camilla to our historic Wiltshire factory, marking a special moment in our 90th anniversary year. The visit celebrated nine decades of British tilemaking, offering Her Majesty an opportunity to discover the traditional techniques behind our handmade tiles and meet the skilled artisans who continue to bring them to life.

A closer look at the art of tilemaking

Welcomed by third-generation owner Jamie Robb and his wife Jo, Managing Director of Marlborough Tiles, Queen Camilla was taken on a tour of our factory to discover the craftsmanship behind our collections, from the development of glaze colours to the intricate art of hand painting.

The visit began with an introduction to our history and the traditional hand glazing techniques that have been central to our production since 1936. In the laboratory, Her Majesty showed a keen interest in the development of new collections and the creation of our distinctive glaze colours, before seeing our tiles glazed by hand along the dipping line and fired in the kiln at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C.

The tour continued to our hand painting studio, where Queen Camilla met the artists responsible for our decorative designs and learned more about the patience, precision and skill involved in creating each piece.

As our artisans demonstrated the Majolica hand painting technique, Her Majesty asked how long it takes to paint a tile and how many a painter might complete in a day, remarking, “You’ve got to have really steady hands.”

She also reflected on the satisfaction of seeing each piece through to completion before trying the craft herself, adding her own brushstrokes to a specially prepared commemorative mural.

A story that comes full circle

The visit held particular significance for our team, building on a previous meeting with Her Majesty in 2012, when she was the Duchess of Cornwall.

That year, she visited Marlborough Town Hall to unveil a ten-foot hand painted mural created by Marlborough Tiles to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Depicting historic buildings and familiar landmarks from the town, the mural was painted by a team of four artisans and remains on permanent display at the Town Hall today.

Among those involved were Jamie and Jo Robb, alongside long-serving hand painters Kirsty Robinson and Helen Whitfield. Kirsty, who celebrates 41 years with Marlborough Tiles this year, was one of the artists who helped bring the original mural to life. Nearly 14 years later, Queen Camilla’s return to Marlborough, this time to visit our factory, brought the story full circle. Reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting newer members of the team, Her Majesty was able to see first-hand the traditional skills that have shaped our work for generations.

Throughout the visit, she expressed admiration for the complexity of the processes involved and the amount of work that goes into creating each individual tile. She also recognised our long history of British manufacturing and the importance of preserving traditional craftsmanship for future generations.

90 years of British craftsmanship

This Royal visit took place during a landmark year for Marlborough Tiles. Founded in 1936 by artists and art teachers Sylvia Packard and Rosalind Ord, the company was established with a passion for artistry and a belief in the beauty of handmade tiles.

Ninety years later, we continue to manufacture our tiles in Marlborough, Wiltshire, with generations of knowledge informing every stage of production. From preparing glazes and hand glazing each tile to painting intricate decorative motifs, many of the techniques at the heart of our work remain rooted in the methods established by our founders.

Today, our team of makers, glaze specialists and hand painters continues to combine these time-honoured skills with fresh ideas and contemporary design, creating tiles for homes and interiors across Britain and around the world.

For Jamie Robb, third-generation owner and Creative Director, sharing this heritage with Her Majesty made the occasion especially meaningful:

“It was an enormous honour to welcome Her Majesty to Marlborough Tiles, particularly as we celebrate our Ninetieth year. The skill, dedication and care of our team have been at the heart of this business for nine decades, and it was a pleasure to share our craft with Her Majesty and introduce her to the people who keep these traditional skills alive.

“Her interest in our work, and her contribution to our commemorative plaque, made this a truly special occasion for everyone here.”

Looking to the next chapter

Queen Camilla’s visit was a memorable way to celebrate our 90th anniversary, bringing together the people, skills and stories that define Marlborough Tiles.

From the pioneering vision of our founding artists to the generations of makers who have carried their craft forward, our history has always been shaped by the hands behind each tile. As we look towards the future, we remain committed to preserving the traditional skills that make our tiles distinctive, while continuing to explore new possibilities in colour, pattern and design.

It was a privilege to share this story with Her Majesty and celebrate the people who keep the art of British tilemaking alive.