Despatch Boxes
Barrow Hepburn & Gale is the official supplier of Despatch Boxes, Ministerial Folders & other items to The Sovereign, His Government & official representatives.
The Despatch Boxes contain confidential, sensitive & top secret documents that are read, commented on & eventually signed & approved by the monarch, the prime minister & other government ministers. These documents safeguard transparency in the decision-making process & provide an accessible historical record for future scrutiny.
Royal Despatch Boxes
The origin of the Despatch Box goes back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. A ‘despatch’ refers to an important message or communication for the monarch. Such important messages had to be concealed from prying eyes & foreign spies. The practical & simple means of achieving secrecy was to place papers bearing messages in a locked box. Adding a royal cypher or a royal crest to the exterior of the box established & emphasised the importance of the documents within.
The King continues to sign all legislation, & the Prime Minister & other ministers act in The King’s name. Consequently, The King receives a constant stream of Despatch Boxes containing documents from the Government, Parliament & his Private Secretary. Wherever in the world the sovereign & government ministers are, their Despatch Boxes are close by.
Government Despatch Boxes
The modern role of Boxes & Folders in the governance process has not changed for over a century. Each day the Despatch Boxes are prepared for the ministers by their private offices.
The documents included, usually require decisions or a minister’s approval & authorisation. Other documents include briefing papers & papers for meetings.
The Cabinet Office provides guidance to departments on the appropriate use of Despatch Boxes as part of The Security Policy Framework. Despatch boxes are mandated to be used for the transportation of information & correspondence classified as Secret, Top Secret & Highly Sensitive.
