'Royal Empire'? is a color sport of 'Empire' that has been patented as 'Teeple Red Empire' with registration pending under the trademark 'Royal Empire'. This cultivar is exceptional for the greater amount of red color on the surface of the fruit as compared to the original cultivar 'Empire'. In .all other respects it is similar to 'Empire'. 'Royal Empire' is a major improvement over the original cultivar because its greater color will permit a higher proportion of the fruit to qualify for the extra fancy grade.