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King Charles’s enduring love affair with luxury automobiles began nearly six decades ago. The spark was ignited on his 21st birthday when he received the keys to a lavish £2 million Aston Martin convertible.
Fast forward to today, and the monarch’s automotive collection is a stunning display of opulence, featuring rare Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and cutting-edge electric vehicles. Among these treasures is his most recent acquisition, a sleek £160,000 sports car, reflecting both his personal taste and a nod to modern sustainable practices.
Earlier this week, King Charles and Queen Camilla were seen for the first time in the Royal Claret Lotus Eletre R, making a stylish entrance as they attended a Sunday Church service in Sandringham.
This new addition complements an already impressive lineup of vehicles housed in the royal mews at Buckingham Palace, a testament to the monarch’s passion for both tradition and innovation.
Some vehicles in the collection serve personal purposes, like the 164 mph Lotus that King Charles personally financed. In contrast, others are designated as ‘state cars,’ reserved for ceremonial occasions, playing a role in the grand tapestry of royal events.
While certain cars from the collection have become iconic symbols of the royal family’s storied history, others embody a future vision—one that harmonizes luxury with environmental consciousness, further cementing The Firm’s commitment to sustainability.
Fans note that the decision to purchase the new Lotus is in keeping with King Charles’s long-standing environmental ethos.
Together, they are part of an enviable collection estimated to be worth more than £12million.
King Charles’s passion for luxury cars began six decades ago, when he was handed the keys to a £2million Aston Martin convertible for his 21st birthday
1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante Convertible, £2million
The car that ignited Charles’s passion for rare vehicles was the 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante Convertible, estimated to be worth around £2 million today.
The blue convertible was a birthday present from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when Charles turned 21 on November 14, 1969.
The most famous car in Charles’s collection, the rare, open-top convertible was also owned by Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.
It remained unmodified until 2008 when Charles had it converted to run on sustainable bioethanol fuel made from ‘wine and cheese’, as the King once quipped.
What he meant was that the fuel is produced from waste generated by English wine production and whey, a by-product of cheesemaking.
The vintage car has only been seen in public a handful of times, including when Charles drove Camilla to the Cirencester Park Polo club in 2003.
Notably, King Charles also loaned the eyewaterigly expensive car to his son Prince William, for his wedding day in April 2011.
King Charles also loaned the eyewateringly expensive car to his son Prince William, for his wedding day in April 2011
William drove the car with his passenger princess Kate, from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House, after they exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey
The last time it was seen was in October 2025, when the car was taken for its annual service from the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, £2.5million
The King seemingly has a soft spot for the classic Rolls-Royce Phantoms, with at least three of these V-8-powered beasts parked in the royal mews.
He inherited the Phantom IV, thought to be worth a staggering £2.5million, from Elizabeth and Philip before she became Queen in 1952.
According to a post on the website of BMW Group, which owns Rolls-Royce, Elizabeth’s order was a ‘decades-long wish’ come true as the British manufacturer began designing the ‘best car in the world’.
Once it had been fitted with ‘every conceivable luxury’, the debut Phantom IV – of which there are only 18 cars – was delivered to Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1950.
The green limousine, which was repainted in the official royal claret and black colour scheme after it became a state vehicle, is steeped in royal history.
Queen Elizabeth was driven to her first-ever engagement as monarch in the burgundy limo as she attended a Maundy Service at Westminster Abbey.
The Telegraph reported that the car also carried Meghan Markle on the day of her wedding to Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel in 2018.
1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, £2.5million
Charles also inherited a 1962 landulet model from the Queen Mother that currently sits in the royal mews.
It features a retractable rear roof, so the public can catch a better glimpse of the King during official engagements.
1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, £1.3million
Estimated to be worth around £1.3million, the Rolls-Royce was presented to Her Majesty by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
This state car is believed to be a gift to the late Queen on the occasion of her Silver Jubilee.
Estimated to be worth around £1.3million, the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI was presented to Her Majesty by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
According to the royal family’s official website, Kate travelled to Westminster Abbey for her wedding to Prince William in the Phantom VI.
It was also used for Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank, as she was spotted
Poignantly, the Princess of Wales, her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as Queen Camilla, arrived at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on September 19, 2022, in the Phantom VI.
1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante, £115,500
The four-seat, forest-green convertible was a generous gift to Charles from the Emir of Bahrain on the occasion of his 38th birthday.
Preferring a more understated look than the standard Vantage, however, Charles asked Aston Martin to custom-build a Volante that would become known as the ‘Prince of Wales’ specification.
Of the 27 PoW Vantage Volantes built by Aston Martin, one was even delivered to the company’s then-chairman, Victor Gauntlett.
Charles eventually sold the forest green V8 Volante auctioned for £111,500 in 1995, after consulting the Emir. Proceeds from the sale went to the Prince of Wales’ Charities Trust.
1994 Aston Martin V8 Virage Volante, £235,000
This vintage vehicle was another fine addition to King Charles’s fleet – no doubt adored by the monarch as he even designed the vehicle himself.
Marking the final instalment of Charles’s Aston Martin trilogy, the glamorous 6.3 litre- green convertible was leased to Charles for 15 years until 2008 and has several bespoke features.
Previously fitted with a police radio that has since been removed, the car features a leather-trimmed container set in the centre armrest – believed to be where Charles specially stored his polo horses’ sugar cubes.
Drivers are also able to enjoy a second rear-view mirror, likely installed by the future King for security personnel sat in the passenger seat.
With just 34,000 miles amassed, the car was privately sold in 2012 before being auctioned with Bonhams in December 2019 at an eye-watering price of £235,750.
Bentley State Limousines, £1.4million
the current fleet of state cars includes two Bentley limousines that were presented to Queen Elizabeth by the car manufacturer for her Golden Jubilee in 2002
In addition to the Rolls-Royces, the current fleet of state cars includes two Bentley limousines that were presented to Queen Elizabeth by the car manufacturer for her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The Guardian reported that these specially-modified limos are worth an astonishing £1.4million alone.
These cars are upgraded versions of the Bentley Arnage, custom-built for the royal family, featuring armoured bodywork and blast-resistant tyres.
According to The Telegraph, the interiors can also quickly be sealed in the event of a gas attack.
His Majesty’s official state car, used for public engagements and ceremonial occasions, was later fitted with a custom, recycled silver ornament designed by Garrard, the jewellery brand behind Diana’s engagement ring.
EV400 HSE Jaguar I-Pace, £65,000
If the Lotus Eletre is King Charles’s latest EV, the more modestly priced Jaguar I-Pace was his first after he bought it for £65,000 in 2018
Marking the Royal Family’s first electric car, Jaguar’s I-Pace was a perfect fit for the environmentally-conscious future King, who purchased the luxury vehicle in 2018.
Charles requested that the car be painted his favourite colour of Loire Blue, while blue lights were later installed, adding a perfect finishing touch to the glamorous vehicle.
In 2019, it was named Car of the Year for its incredible comfort and style.
Under royal ownership until December 2021, Charles once reportedly described the car as ‘silent but deadly’.
The King racked up a little under 3,000 miles in the swish sedan – with Her Majesty also understood to have been taxied by her son in the esteemed vehicle.
In 2024, the car was auctioned by Historic Auctioneers at Ascot Racecourse for £64,960.
Audi Q8 E-Tron, £80,000
In 2024, Audi received the seal of royal approval from King Charles as the brand was awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment
The £80,000 Audi Q8 E-Tron S Line 55 Quattro boasts a 333-mile range on a single battery and can race from 0-60mph in just 5.6 seconds.
Hooked up to a rapid charger with speeds of up to 170kW, it can boost the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just 31 minutes.
The upmarket SUV underscored the King’s promise to invest in eco-friendly models of cars.
In a candid interview with the BBC in 2021, when asked if he was a ‘bit of a Clarkson’ and a ‘kind of petrol head’, Charles responded: ‘Yes, but that was before we knew what the problems were.’
In 2024, Audi received the seal of royal approval from King Charles as the brand was awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment. The prestigious accolade grants Audi the privilege to supply vehicles to the Royal Family for the next three years.
BMW i17, £170,000
The King’s top-of-the-range electric BMW was first spotted by eagle-eyed royal fans in June 2025 – when the monarch opted to travel in style to a Sunday service at Sandringham’s St Mary Magdalene Church.
Black in colour but green in spirit, the lavish motor is reportedly worth £170,000. It has an incredible driving range of 387 miles on a single charge and can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Described as ‘the epitome of premium’, the glamorous electric vehicle is fit with an incredibly spacious interior and sleek head-turning exterior.
In 2023, it was the winner of the Best Luxury EV at the Top Gear Electric Awards – the fourth major award won for the first-ever BMW i7 since it was first formed in December 2022.
With plenty of light and spacious seating, the impeccable motor is certainly fit for royalty. One of its standout features includes the world’s first Theatre Screen built into a vehicle.
Lotus Eletre, £160,000
The bespoke SUV ‘with racecar DNA’ was instantly recognisable in its Royal Claret colouring after it was spotted outside the King’s Norfolk estate earlier this week
The latest addition to the King’s multimillion-pound fleet is the £160,000 Lotus Eletre that Charles ordered last May.
The bespoke SUV ‘with racecar DNA’ was instantly recognisable in its Royal Claret colouring after it was spotted outside the King’s Norfolk estate earlier this week.
It boasts a 280-mile range on a single battery, can race from 0-62mph in just 2.95 seconds.
Before buying the car, the Royal family had a Lotus on loan. It comes after the King last year announced he had fitted electric charging points at his Royal households and bought two new electric BMWs.
