The cars of the British Royal Family

Royal weddings used to be occasions when social commentators and fashion critics came out to play. Today with a stream of classy and classic vehicles joining the show they have provided unexpected opportunities for automotive commentators as well. Yet how different from the official 'fleet' are the models that the British Royals have chosen to drive when away from the public gaze?

It is well known that during World War II the then Princess Elizabeth enlisted as a driver/mechanic and was competent to steer and maintain anything on wheels - and possibly tracks.

Following the War she was given one of the first Land-Rovers to be produced and since the 1940s has maintained strong personal links with the brand. While Range Rovers, including a specially-built Landaulet with retracting roof panel, are used for official occasions, the Queen has her own diesel-engined Defender which she drives when in residence at Balmoral Castle.

Looking back to the 1950s, Her Majesty's personal cars have included a large and ornate Daimler limousine and various Humbers. Early in the 1960s she owned a rare Vauxhall  Cresta Friary Estate (station wagon) with gun and fishing-rod racks and painted Imperial Green.

While on the subject of regal ladies by the name of Elizabeth, let us recall the late Queen Mother's great affection for Jaguar products. In 1955 she acquired a Mark 7M saloon which served as her personal transport - usually with a chauffeur - until 1973 when replaced by a rare long-wheelbase Series 1 V12. It remained in service until the Queen Mother's death in 2002 when it was returned to Jaguar for display in their Heritage Trust collection.

During recent years the Queen has also owned an array of Jaguars including a supercharged XJ V8 saloon. However, the Jag that has seen the most frequent regal use of late was a V6-engined X Type Estate.

A further link to the brand came in 2018 when Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex left for their wedding reception in an E Type that had been converted to electric power.

The Duke's liking for a car of quality became apparent almost 65 years ago when he took delivery of a six-cylinder Lagonda Drophead (convertible) with elegant bodywork by Tickford and space to accommodate an expanding family. He retained it for many years and the car survives in fine fettle. It was sold recently at auction for considerably more than its original cost.

As Ranger of Windsor Great Park, Phillip was supplied with a diesel-engined Land-Rover Discovery however his preference seems to be for the more spacious Range Rover. It was in a Range Rover that the then 94 year-old Prince would ferry a nervous-looking President and Mrs Obama from their helicopter to nearby Windsor Castle during a visit in 2016.

The environmentally-aware heir is probably the last Royal you would expect to own one of Britain's most exotic collector cars. Not surprisingly though, it doesn't run on conventional fuel.

At age 21 and following a few years behind the wheel of a Reliant Scimitar, Charles took delivery of what must rank even for someone of his stature as a most impressive gift.

At the time, Britain's security was in the capable hands of a lisping Scotsman and an Aston-Martin that groaned under the weight of Cold War gadgetry.  There must have been a temptation on the part of Palace car-fettlers to install just a few Bond-inspired gimmicks, but that would be left to Charles himself.

The car was an ultra-rare DB6 Mark 2 Volante convertible; one of only 140 built before the shape was retired in favour of the more angular DBS.

Later, the Prince would extend his close relationship with Aston-Martin by inspiring a run of specially-modified cars ordered by high-worth customers and collectively known as the 'Prince of Wales' (or PoW) Edition. All were slightly different from Charles' car with its mesh grille, special interior trim and Balmoral Green paint.

The Prince would during the 1990s update to a Virage version of the Volante, various Bentleys and then Jaguars that ran exclusively on biofuels. He was recently seen inspecting an all-electric US-built Tesla.

However, his most obvious nod to environmental friendship came in 2008 when he had the DB6 engine converted to run on bio-ethanol fuel from a most unusual source. As Britain doesn't have a sugar-growing industry, the fuel for HRH's car is distilled from surplus wine supplied to Green Fuels by a vineyard in Wiltshire.

When driven, with an oversized 'L' plate, by Prince William on his wedding day in 2011, the borrowed and blue Volante was emitting nothing but the aroma of an underdone Chablis and 85% less carbon dioxide than conventional Aston-Martin engines.

Poor Anne is known as the hardest-working Royal but in years past she had more chance of getting her name in the papers for speeding than backing a worthy cause.  Not helping her case was a liking for V6-engined Reliant Scimitar GTE hatchbacks that were good for around 180km/h and in which she was regularly pinged during the 1970s by the sharp-eyed constabulary.

The Reliants had by 2001 been put out to pasture and replaced by a Bentley. The Princess Royal's need for speed didn't diminish though and it was clocked en route to an engagement at 147km/h in a 112 zone.

Charles and Diana's offspring seem to have inherited their mother's fondness for German rather than British models. Diana when the boys were young was often seen in her open-top Audi Cabriolet and it hasn't taken long for Audi's UK suppliers to offer the 'heir and spare' good deals on some of the Teutonic brands best.

Recent reports have William and Catherine behind the wheel of a mid-engined A8 super-coupe, with an A3 for everyday use. Harry recently offered his rocket-ship RS6 wagon for sale and has reverted to a Range Rover. Older brother William is also a devoted fan of Ducati motorcycles - another Audi subsidiary - and rides them to footy training despite wifely concerns about his safety.

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