bahrainthismonth.com | MAY 2025 UK IN BAHRAIN 24 Monarchs & Motorcars Kristian Harrison explores the British monarchy’s historic love affair with cars and the treasures hidden within the royal garages. It’s no secret that the British Royal Family owns a remarkable fleet of vehicles, many of which are housed at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace. Among the Bentleys and Rolls-Royces lies a treasure trove of stories – including King Charles III’s Aston Martin that runs on cheese. State Symbols on Wheels Royal vehicles are categorised into several classes. State Cars, including two Bentleys and three Rolls-Royces, are used for formal occasions and public engagements. These striking vehicles are painted in Royal Claret and Masons Black and are exempt from number plates, a distinction shared only with the State Hearse. Royal Review Vehicles, like the two specially modified Range Rovers, are used during parades and ceremonies. Semi-State Cars, including Jaguar XJ Limousines and Range Rovers, are used for less formal events and general transport. Additional support vehicles serve everything from security to logistics. Motoring Through History The monarchy’s motoring story began with King Edward VII, who in 1900 acquired a 6bhp Daimler Mail Phaeton. He later awarded Daimler a Royal Warrant and converted the Royal Mews from stables into a garage. By 1904, he became the first monarch to use a motor car for an official engagement. This passion for cars has carried through generations. Queen Elizabeth II, though best known for her love of horses, was a confident driver and trained wartime mechanic. She frequently drove Land Rovers at Balmoral and personally chauffeured dignitaries. Shortly after her accession in 1952, RollsRoyce became the preferred brand for royal engagements. One of her personal favourites was a 1961 Vauxhall Cresta Estate, modified with fishing rod holders, a dog guard, and a gun rack – all finished in custom Imperial Green. It remains at Sandringham today. Charles: The Green King King Charles III has taken royal motoring in an eco-friendly direction. Known for his environmental advocacy, he has retrofitted many royal cars to run on sustainable fuels. His private collection is said to exceed 100 vehicles, though most remain under wraps. One confirmed gem is his 1970 Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante, gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II for his 21st birthday. In 2008, engineers adapted it to run on E85 bioethanol, made from surplus white grape and whey extracted from cheese. Charles once quipped that it: “smells delicious as you’re driving along.” To master the car’s 148mph speed, he hired F1 legend Graham Hill for lessons and added a fake red ‘eject’ button to amuse guests – a nod to James Bond. Another prized vehicle is his 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante, a gift from Bahrain’s late Emir, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Finished in Balmoral Green with a manual gearbox, it mirrors the Bond car in The Living Daylights. These days, Charles is more often seen in an all-electric Jaguar I-Pace, promoting sustainable motoring into the monarchy’s next era.
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