With a car collection estimated to be worth £10 million, it is clear to see that the Queen loves her cars! The collection includes vintage Rolls-Royces, Jaguars, and Bentleys. So, with the Jubilee just around the corner, lets dive into her car collection!
The Land Rover is a royal favourite, the queen is said to have owned around 30 Land Rover defenders over her reign from the classics right through to the ‘new’ defender. The Range Rover LWB Landaulet (chances are, you've never heard of such a vehicle), is used for state processions, thanks to its open-air top and backwards opening doors, the Queen can wave at her loyal subjects. Along with custom modifications for Her Majesty, the maroon Range Rover has the royal flag mounted on its bonnet.
The Queen was the first to receive a prestigious Bentley Bentayga. It was a thoughtful gesture by then-CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer to acknowledge the brand’s British heritage. Since then tens of thousands of Bentaygas have sold all over the world which is no surprise considering it is the most powerful SUV, with a V12 and 600bhp!
The Bentayga isn’t the only Bentley owned by Her Majesty, there are two exclusive Bentleys parked in the Royal Mews ready for service. The Bentley State Limousine has a 6.75-liter V8 engine as well as armoured bodywork and puncture-resistant tyres, as well as blue flashing lights. The Bentley State Limousine is by far the most expensive vehicle at the royal family’s disposal – and they have two of them! A single one costs around £10,000,000 and is mainly used for official state business such as public engagements.
No car history would be complete without a Jag. The Jaguar Daimler V8 Super LWB is a specially built model used to drive around Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. The car featured an armrest with a sliding holder designed to hold her handbag and unique air conditioning, she told Daimler that she liked fresh air when driving but she didn’t like it directly on her face, they designed a system that funneled air to the sides.
Although she doesn't technically own or drive the car, she gifted an Aston Martin Volante DB6 to her eldest son Charles for his 21st birthday. He later converted the DB6 to run on fuel made from wine, it uses approximately 5 bottles to travel just 1 mile! On converting the car, the Prince said, "At first, the engineers weren't convinced that the conversion would work, but I insisted that it would. When the conversion was done, they had to admit that the car now performs better than ever."
Perhaps the most exclusive vehicle in the world - and certainly one of the oldest still in use - is the Gold State Coach. Commissioned in 1760 by King George III, the coach weighs in at an impressive four tons! The exterior boasts exquisitely painted panels by the Florentine artist, Giovanni Battista Cipriani. The Gold State Coach has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821.