Words: Autocar
Published 30 May 2026
King Charles III has been quietly assembling one of the more interesting royal car collections for the better part of six decades. It is unapologetically British, leans heavily on his green credentials, and includes at least one car that runs on the leftovers from a cheese factory. Here is our pick of the King’s five most significant rides.
5. Rolls-Royce Phantom VI (1978)
Presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her Silver Jubilee, this Phantom VI has been doing state duty for nearly half a century. It has a 6.75-litre V8 driving the rear wheels, a raised roof so the monarch can wave without stooping, and the kind of upright presence only a coachbuilt Roller can manage. Charles inherited it on his accession in September 2022 and has used it for ceremonial outings since. It is not the fastest or the rarest car in the Royal Mews, but it is the one that says “monarchy” loudest.
4. Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante (1986)
A gift from the Emir of Bahrain, finished in British racing green. The V8 Vantage of this period is the original “brute in a suit”, with around 400hp from a 5.3-litre V8 fed by four twin-choke Webers, hand-built at Newport Pagnell. The King kept his for eight years before selling it at auction in the mid-1990s, raising more than £111,000 for The Prince’s Trust. It is the most muscular of his Astons, and the only one he has voluntarily parted with.
3. Jaguar I-Pace (2018)
Ordered in 2018 and delivered in 2019, the King’s I-Pace is finished in a one-off shade of Loire Blue and has been photographed at his engagements ever since. It is fully electric, 294kW, and dispatches 0-100km/h in around 4.5 seconds. When the car eventually crossed the auction block it fetched £64,960 with around 56,000km on the clock, which suggests Charles actually drove it rather than just posed alongside it. Symbolically it is the most important car he owns: the first EV in the royal garage, ordered well before EVs became fashionable.
2. Bentley State Limousine (2002)
Built as a pair for the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and never offered to another head of state, the State Limousines are the closest thing the King has to a personal aircraft on wheels. A twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8 produces around 300kW, the cabin is sealed against gas attack, the bodywork is armoured, and the coach doors open to almost 90 degrees so the monarch can step out without ducking. Both cars are being converted to run on biofuel as an interim step before a fully electrified state fleet arrives. They are the only Bentleys Crewe will never sell you, which is half the appeal.
1. Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante (1969)
There was only ever going to be one car at the top of this list. A 21st birthday present from the late Queen, finished in Seychelles Blue over a dark blue interior, with a 4.0-litre straight-six and a manual gearbox. The young Prince of Wales took advanced driving tuition from two-time F1 champion Graham Hill before he was allowed near the throttle. In 2008, Aston Martin Works converted the engine to run on E85 bioethanol made from surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese industry, which is the most Charles thing imaginable. It carried William and Catherine from Buckingham Palace after their 2011 wedding and remains the King’s personal favourite. Worth somewhere north of £2 million today, but it is the only car on this list that will never be sold.
Five cars, six decades, one consistent thread: a British monarch with rather better taste in cars than most heads of state.
