Leidos technology underpins logistics for King Charles III’s coronation

^{Westminster Abbey in London, the venue for King Charles III’s May 6 coronation. Photo: Getty Images}

Leidos recently hosted a reception in London to recognize small business suppliers that have ramped up production of new uniforms and regalia for the upcoming coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Many of these ceremonial items are being procured and delivered through the Leidos Logistics Commodities & Services Transformation (LCST) Programme that uses best-in-class technology for military procurement.

Why you should know: King Charles III will be crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London, marking the transfer of royal titles and powers from Queen Elizabeth II who ruled the British monarchy for seven decades. Millions around the world will tune in to watch the event.

Royal guards and ceremony officials will be outfitted in handcrafted regalia including the redesigned royal cypher, a unique emblem denoting the current monarch.

Simon Fovargue, Leidos U.K. Chief Executive, praised the small and medium enterprises crafting these items for going above and beyond to ensure the event’s success.

• “Our suppliers are stepping up to get these items out on time, just like they did on very short notice to support the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen,” says Fovargue. “They’re the unsung heroes behind these important events and collaboration is at the core of their success."

Firms such as Wyedean Weaving, Firmin & Sons and Kashket & Partners of London were represented at the reception among others.

• "It’s positive to see that many of the companies supporting the coronation are small and medium enterprises (SME) that play a hugely important role in our supply chains,” said Roger West, a Logistics and Support Director for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD). “It’s a remarkable feat that the U.K. defence supply chain finds itself ahead of the rest of the country and the rest of the industry in the role SMEs play within it. SMEs make up nearly half of the MOD’s supply chain on the LCST Programme.”

Background: Since 2015, the LCST programme for the MOD, managed by Leidos, has facilitated more than £1bn worth of products to U.K. soldiers ranging from food rations to boots, clothing, medical supplies and more.

Through the programme, Leidos has modernized the MOD’s supply chain with digital solutions that mirror the shopping experience of online retailers.

• “It’s been a complete transformation,” says Leidos information technologist James Langley. “Before LCST, there was a largely manual order management system driving the MOD’s procurement, a process that took place mostly over the phone and on paper. Now their warehouses and fulfillment centers run much more efficiently with a high degree of automation.”

Langley said the key to this transformation is the Leidos Supply Chain Integration Portal (SCIP).

• “SCIP takes advanced software from online retailers and combines it with security and expertise that Leidos has developed over 50 years working with militaries around the world,” he said.

Looking ahead: Langley said while meeting the MOD’s coronation needs is a top priority, his team is working with suppliers on a long-term plan to deliver the new royal cypher and other insignia to U.K. regiments deployed around the world.

Please contact the Leidos media relations team for more information.