It’s no secret that the entire family of British monarchs is constantly travelling with official and unofficial visits around the world. For each country, a certain car was chosen (in fact, some of them even travelled on yachts together with the Queen). It is not strange, because even Queen Elizabeth II in her younger years liked driving, and also during the Second World War was a military car mechanic.
Cars travelled with members of the royal family even to Czechoslovakia. It is worth noting that the royal family treats the choice of cars with special trepidation and stops only exclusive brands. It is about the history of the choice of vehicles by the royal family that we will talk about today.
History of Royal cars
It’s no secret that Great Britain is a country of the forefront in the automotive world. However, for a long time the court considered the use of cars as something out of the ordinary (we are talking about Victorian England). The court really paid a lot of attention to cars during the reign of Elizabeth II, as she was a fan of cars and got behind the wheel even at a very respectable age. In addition, as an 18-year-old princess, Elizabeth got her licence and got behind the wheel of an Austin K2/Y military truck, which served for medical purposes during the Second World War. This is how the fragile girl’s fascination with big cars was born.
However, it is worth mentioning that the future queen received her first car as a gift from her father in 1944. It is about Daimler DB18. Four years after the war, Land Rover presented the 100th anniversary car (it was made of aircraft aluminium) to King George the Sixth. It was on this car that the Princess got behind the wheel of a lorry again, and some time later she bought herself the exact same car with her own money. This is where the love affair with Land Rover began, of which there are 30 in the royal car industry. The company was very grateful to the royal family for their support and even created exclusive cars. For example, a convertible for Elizabeth’s tour of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Another love of the royal family was the Rolls-Royce Phantom (1950s). Rolls-Royce Phantom V and VI limousines were used from the Sixties through the Nineties.
There was another phenomenon, namely the creation of exclusive cars for the Queen’s visits to other countries. Thus, for a trip to Jamaica, an Austin Vanden Plas Princess was built, which was equipped with two air-conditioners and had a very rich interior decoration. By the way, this car was put up for auction afterwards.
By the way, the royal family and Elizabeth herself also used station wagons. For example, she liked the spacious Vauxhall Cresta. But the Queen went further in her love of space and comfort. That is why since 80th years the car for every day became a limousine Daimler DS420 almost 6 metres long.
A separate place in the royal car industry is occupied by the Bentley State. It is noteworthy that only two of them were made. One of them was armoured (for security purposes), its length exceeded 6 metres and its height was 1.77 metres. Why so tall? All so that the queen would not have to duck when landing or remove her hat. By the way, according to ecological requirements, back in 2009 V8 Bentley began to use biofuel.
Another executive car was assembled for the Queen in 2015. Hotly loved by the monarch’s family Range Rover made an SUV with a roof that pulled away, especially so that inside you can stand up and wave to people.
A few words about the safety of royal cars
As we said earlier, the royal car industry had an armoured car. But, there is another entertaining exhibit presented to Her Majesty by the Volkswagen concern. This is the Bentley Arnage Red Label. What’s so special about it? Well… For example, it is designed to protect from exhaust gases with special air filters. In addition, it has a high enough speed (up to 210 kilometres per hour) to move quickly in case of danger. It is also worth noting that Her Majesty always drove unbuckled in order to leave the vehicle unhindered in the event of an attack.
Why fog lights are important for English cars?
As we delve into the fascinating world of the British Royal Family’s remarkable car ensemble, one feature that consistently steals the spotlight in road safety is the strategic use of fog lights. In the misty landscapes of the United Kingdom, where unpredictable weather is as much a part of the scenery as the historic landmarks, fog lights emerge as indispensable guardians of safe travel.
These specialized lights, carefully integrated into the design of English cars, play a pivotal role in enhancing visibility during adverse weather conditions. Whether navigating the picturesque countryside or cruising through the cityscape, fog lights not only accentuate the regal presence of the royal vehicles but also underscore the commitment to safety, ensuring that every royal road trip is a journey of elegance and security.
A few conclusions
The British car industry has always been the pride of the royal family. Moreover, Elizabeth II has always defended it and promoted it to the masses. All cars of this family are real works of art. This is not strange, because the queen from an early age was fond of cars, especially fond of various SUVs. Moreover, the family of monarchs preferred spacious and expensively furnished cars. Of course, it did not do without specific modifications (for example, the car height of 1.77 metres) for a comfortable landing without ducking. Another reason for this height is the need not to snag a hat. However, this is the exception to the rule. Most often the royal family used though elite, but known to all cars without any modifications.
Sources of information for the article:
Fog lamps information – www.autodoc.co.uk
Royal family car collection – www.gq-magazine.co.uk
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