Waterford was designated a Royal Port by Henry II and therefore could levy tolls.

In a bid to gain favour with Edward III over New Ross, the Roll was drawn up in a pictorial and colourful style showing that the city had had relationships with kings going back centuries, kings that were ancestors of Edward.

The king was persuaded by the Roll and reinstated Waterford's monopoly as a royal port.

In the mid-19th century, George Victor Du Noyer made a re-creation of the Waterford Charter Roll.

[4] During her visit to Ireland in 2011 Queen Elizabeth II viewed the Roll.