Dentist Royal in Reading Berks

[SteveSims]

This concerns William Henry Wackerell STAVELEY (b. Dec 1822 Camelford Cornwall, d. 27 Jul 1891 Reading Berks), my g2-grand-uncle by marriage to Frances SIMS.

He was a prominent dentist (& sometime chemist, druggist, insurance agent) in Reading for 40+ years. Both his father and his son were surgeons.

In earlier censuses he puts his occupation down as "Dentist", but in 1891 (a few months before his death) it appears to be "Dentist (Royal)" as shown in the image.

When I first saw this it thought it might be analogous to "Physician Royal", but I have been unable to find out more.

My current thoughts are:
- It was some sort of honorary title? OR
- It was an official appointment possibly involving letters patent? OR
- He was making the whole thing up (though why he should do this in a document to be sealed for 100 years escapes me).

I'm trying to resist the image of the elderly dentist heading up the road to Windsor, black bag in hand... I don't imagine VR had too many teeth left by then...

I'd welcome any advice on royal appointments, and how to follow this up.

Cheers
Steve

PS Then a generation further back there is a g3-grand-uncle by marriage to Elizabeth SIMS, one Henry HAVELL (from a noted family of artists, engravers, etc).

One of the older art refs (Bryans) says Henry was "Decorator to the King" before he & Elizabeth left for New York c1829 - this too remains a mystery...

[NigelG]

Could it be Dentist Registd i.e. registered? 

[SteveSims]

Actually, it probably is, now you mention it - the little squiggle at the top right could be the contracted final "d". And it probably would make more sense than my initial reading which puzzled me.

These bi-tone images are a bit unclear - or maybe my eyes are just going on me!

Still interested in how to chase up royal appointments, for Henry HAVELL the (heraldic) decorator.

Cheers
Steve