The cars of kings and queens
By Jason K. Ang GEORGE Alexander Louis, first-born son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, had he been fully aware at the time, would have enjoyed his first car ride. Brought out from the hospital by his father, the young prince was in a proper infant child seat, which Price William dutifully buckled into the back seat, together with a beaming Kate. William then took the wheel of the black Range Rover, and headed to Kensington Palace, under the watchful eyes of a thousand camera lenses.
Jaguar Land Rover has had a long relationship with the British royal family. It is the only automotive manufacturer to hold all three Royal Warrants. This means that it supplies Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The company was recently the official motor partner for the Coronation Festival, marking the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation. The two car brands hold an even longer relationship with the Crown. Jaguar and Land Rover were each granted their first Royal Warrants in 1951, a year before The Queen ascended the Throne. Charles, the Prince of Wales, has worked with Land Rover to promote rural development in the UK, with the brand donating the use of Freelanders to worthwhile causes. Memorably, HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York attended the opening of the now-defunct Ortigas showroom of Land Rover Philippines. Rolls Royce is also the holder of a Royal Warrant.
Queen Elizabeth uses a Bentley State Limousine, specially manufactured by the brand for Her Majesty on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. The Queen, a trained mechanic, will certainly relish having an adequate amount of power, as the car’s 6.75-liter V8 has been modified to produce 400 hp and 835 Nm, for a top speed of 210 kph. The car’s coach doors open to nearly 90 degrees. The Bentley has a mount on its roof for an illuminated crest, and carries the Queen’s mascot, St. George slaying the dragon. The car was later converted to run on biofuel.
The Queen is not alone in wanting to be more environmentally friendly. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco commissioned a Lexus hybrid car at the occasion of his marriage to Charlene Wittstock in 2011. The Lexus LS 600 h L Laundaulet features a one-piece transparent polycarbonate roof, as well as the full hybrid drive and low emissions technology that the brand is famous for.
King Juan Carlos I of Spain is a noted car enthusiast. His previous and current vehicles include a Porsche 959, a Harley Davidson gifted by publisher Malcom Forbes, and the “crown jewel” Rolls Royce Phantom IV formerly owned by General Franco. Only 18 of those cars were built, exclusively for royalty and heads of state. King Carlos uses a customized Maybach 57 as his personal car, while the Royal Family uses mainly