With the riches behind the monarchy, our Queen hasn’t been short of choice of luxury cars in her lifetime. But which marques are her favourite? We thought we’d celebrate the Jubilee in an appropriate way to ChooseMyCar.com – by taking a look at the Queen’s choices over the last 60 years.
Land Rover
It has been widely reported that the Queen’s favourite ever car is the iconic Land Rover Defender. Throughout the decades, the Queen has remained faithful to her beloved Land Rover. Her first notable one was the Land Rover Series I, which she used during a six-month tour of the Commonwealth in 1953. Over the following decades, the Queen has rarely been without a Land Rover in some form, from her trusty defenders to the more comfortable Range Rover. We can’t think of a more fitting partnership for the country-loving monarch.
Rolls Royce
Another firm favourite, and certainly a marque fit for royalty! The Rolls Royce Phantom V and VI were a notable addition to the Queen’s collection in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Queen’s official group of state vehicles is rarely seen without a Roller in it. A very stately vehicle for the Head of the Commonwealth.
Vauxhall
This one is a bit of a surprise. We can’t quite see the Queen zooming around in a modified Corsa or Astra! But the Queen has had several Vauxhalls over the years, starting with the Cresta PA Friary Estate in the 1960s. Of course, it wasn’t your standard vehicle, and included modifications for housing dogs, a gun rack for shotguns and – most interestingly – a fishing rod holder on the roof. She held onto this vehicle for many years, so we presume she liked it! This modified vehicle isn’t the only Vauxhall that the monarch has chosen though. The Queen has been seen driving both Insignias and Omegas over the years.
Bentley
Some say that this marque has overtaken the Rolls Royce as the Queen’s favourite state vehicle. Bentleys make up a large part of the Queen’s day to day collection – and we can’t say we blame her. Comfortable, spacious, elegant and powerful, the Bentley is an obvious choice and certainly fit for a Queen. But even a luxury Bentley gets the Royal treatment – with the brand admitting in 2016 that the Queen’s purchase of a Bentley Bentaya would come with an agreement that the “standard” options would be upgraded! The Bentley also featured in the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, when our monarch was given a Bentley state limousine.
Jaguar
Perhaps another obvious choice, the Royal Family has had many Jaguars over the years. In fact, the Queen’s “off-duty” car of choice was often the Jaguar XE, which she was regularly seen driving herself to church in. As recently as 2021, our monarch was spotted behind the wheel of a racing green Jaguar Estate, just three days after being advised by her doctors to rest.
Daimler
Daimlers have been a staple in the Royal fleet for decades. The Daimler Super V8 LWB was even the Queen’s “personal” car, with bespoke modifications for her Majesty’s pleasure such as a handbag holder, phone fittings and hidden blue strobe lights. She also owned a 1984 Daimler Double Six for several years, with special Corgi seating! Daimler’s also feature heavily in the State limousine collection, which is made up of Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Daimlers.
