When you think of the royals, you probably assume they’re being chauffeured around all the time. But sometimes, these famous Brits take the wheel themselves, since they don’t forfeit the right, unlike American presidents. In fact, monarchs don’t even need to show their driver’s license to the cop when they get pulled over! As such, they’re regularly spotted driving since it makes them feel normal, but what’s it like driving with a royal? Buckle up—it’s about to be a wild ride!
Queen Elizabeth II was known for speeding
You wouldn’t expect a little old lady to be driving around like she’s in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, but that’s exactly what the queen used to do, according to her former personal assistant, Samantha Cohen, who called her “gutsy” and told The Times, “She would drive her cars fast around Balmoral.”
She could drive military trucks from her time at the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during WWII, and also fixed them as a qualified mechanic. When King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was visiting the UK, she gave him a wild ride around the Scottish Highlands that was so fast, it gave the prince quite a panic—he even told his interpreter to request that she “slow down and concentrate on the road ahead.”
Prince Philip also liked a fast ride or two
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II shared a passion for fast cars, as they were both fond of driving them. He owned many fancy cars and could drive essentially any vehicle, whether it was an army tank or a vintage car. The queen loved to drive around with Philip, given their shared need for speed.
In a 1939 letter, she wrote, she mentioned her husband-to-be, saying, “Philip enjoys driving and does it fast! He has his own tiny M.G., which he is very proud of—he has taken me about in it, once up to London, which was great fun, only it was like sitting on the road, and the wheels are almost as high as one’s head.” He was also caught not wearing a seat belt a couple of times after a collision. That said, he knew when to be cautious; he drove around the Obamas when they visited the UK in 2015.
Princess Anne was also a bit of a leadfoot
Princess Anne’s parents weren’t the only ones that loved speed—in fact, she’s gotten herself into more than a couple of confrontations with the police over the years since she has trouble sticking to the speed limit. And while we don’t condone speeding, we will say that this fact fits in with her nonconformist, rebellious personality.
In 1990, she was caught speeding twice in a single week, at 77 mph and 90 mph, both in a 60-mph zone. When the cops caught up to her, she floored it to escape them. Another fun fact? She once snuck out of Buckingham Palace to take a sports car belonging to former racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart for an illicit joyride.
King Charles III abides by the law
The King is a model citizen when it comes to road conduct, unlike his sister, Princess Anne. He doesn’t like to rely on a chauffeur—instead, he drives himself where he needs to go, and former royal staffer Grant Harrold once took a ride with him, telling Express, “He was a very good driver. It was quite bumpy because of the country lanes in Balmoral, but we all just had a normal conversation.” Apparently, the driver can attest to the fact that Charles always drives with a lumbar support cushion and never allows snacks since he hates a mess!
Queen Camilla drives with a doggie in tow
Though they’re married, these spouses have very different driving habits. While the king likes his car to be spotless and organized, Camilla’s vehicle is a bit messier, and part of that is because of her penchant for driving around with pups. Her three dogs tend to ride around with her, and as a result, dog hair is everywhere in the backseat.
She also likes to ride in a sports car once in a while—in 2003, she was spotted driving with Charles in his 1969 Aston Martin DB Volante. Interestingly, this is the same car that Charles was seen driving around in with his ex, Diana, before they split.
Prince William knows how to do a J-turn
There aren’t many royals who can pull off a Hollywood-style maneuver, but given the tragic car accident his mother was in, it makes sense that he knows some moves to get him out of a sticky situation if he needs to. As a result, he knows how to do a J-turn.
A J-turn is when the car is backed up at speed, the wheel is turned at the right moment, and you floor it. Fortunately, he’s never had to perform this move, but he was the subject of scrutiny when the Earl of Bathurst accused him and his police escorts of speeding on his estate and overtaking the earl.