 The Barclay twins of The Ellerman Group of Companies purchased the hotel for £ 80 million from Trafalgar House , in October 1995 , through their company Ellerman Investments . They spent eight years and £ 40 million restoring it to its former grandeur . Two years after the death of Princess Diana , the Prince and Camilla Parker @-@ Bowles made their first public appearance together at the Ritz , as they left a birthday party for Parker @-@ Bowles ' sister . The couple returned to the hotel in November 2002 for the Prince 's birthday party attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh . In 2002 , the Ritz became the first hotel to receive the Royal Warrant from his Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for banqueting and catering services . 
