The British royal family has had a strong relationship with cars since the automobile was first manufactured in England. Initially, royal cars were produced by the Daimler Motor Company, which was established in 1896 as England’s first automaker. The bodies of these special state cars were crafted by famed coachbuilder Hooper, which had established its reputation as a premier carriage constructor with the awarding of a royal warrant—a prestigious, and advertisable, seal of approval, designating goods produced for the monarchs’ use—as far back as 1830.
The cars currently used by the royal family are divided into a few distinct categories. State cars are generally custom limousines, used for special occasions. State royal review vehicles are customized vehicles used for presenting the royal family to the public during parades or ceremonial duties. Semi-state cars are used by the royal family for less formal functions. These vehicles typically belong to the Crown, but members of the royal family may also drive personal cars of their own that they have purchased or received as gifts.
In the contemporary era, four British automakers currently hold royal warrants to produce vehicles for the family: Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, and Aston Martin. The German company Audi received a royal warrant from King Charles III in 2024.
According to an inside source at an auto company, the provisions for being granted a royal warrant are top secret. Moreover, one of the central tenets to holding a royal warrant is maintaining complete confidentiality in discussing what exactly is involved. So, no scoop here.
Now that you’ve been primed, here are some of the most compelling, special, and valuable vehicles driven by members of the modern royal family.
