Samsung Electronics has become a purveyor of digital TVs by appointment to the British royal family. The Korean home appliance giant will supply 100 large LCD or PDP TVs to the Windsors at their official request, the company said Thursday. It is for all anyone knows the first time Korean appliances have been installed in British palaces, certainly through official purchasing. Samsung Electronics’ British branch on Thursday said it received a letter from the U.K. royals ordering the TVs. The firm said it was also the first time that the royals have signed a purchasing contract with a specific TV maker. So far, the Windsors have used TVs loaned or given to them by companies, but this is the first time they are paying good money.

A Samsung Electronics spokesperson said the company will be entitled to use the seals of the British royal family for its products if the deal remains effective for more than five years. Other purveyors “by appointment” include IBM and famous London department store Harrods. According to the contract, Samsung will install 100 LCD or PDP TVs in Buckingham Palace starting in January. Samsung’s flagship TVs for the European market are 32-inch and 40-inch LCD TVs, and 42-inch and 50-inch PDP TVs. The largest models are a 57-inch LCD and a 63-inch PDP TVs. Samsung is expected to post some W200 million (US$1=W921) in sales through the royal contract, given that a large digital TV costs some W2 million.

Samsung Electronics U.K. said the royals asked for brochures in June and took until October to make up their minds.

(englishnews@chosun.com )