The Royal Family enjoy a life of luxury in many ways, with access to enormous privileges in most areas of their lives.

Travel is no exception, with members of the Firm able to jet around the world on private planes and tour the UK on their own train.

However, when it comes to driving, the royals are surprisingly down to earth.

Worlds away from plush Lamborghinis or petrol-guzzling hummers, the Prince and Princess of Wales choose significantly more modest models to drive around in.

In fact, William’s first car was a model many new drivers will sit behind the wheel of when they first pass their test – the humble Volkswagen Golf. He was seen driving it around Gloucestershire when he passed his test.

Throughout the years, William, 42 and Kate, 43, have had a surprisingly varied car collection, ranging from Audi A3s to classic Land Rovers. 

And while they often get driven around by a chauffeur, the Prince and Princess of Wales often enjoy getting into the driving seat themselves. 

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at Kate and William’s surprisingly normal car collection…

Prince William was first snapped behind the wheel of a car in 1999 on the Highgrove Estate after passing his driving test in a Mk 1 Ford Focus

Volkswagen Golf

 Prince Charles bought William his first car for his birthday, a black Volkswagen Golf

Prince William was first snapped behind the wheel of a car in 1999 on the Highgrove Estate after passing his driving test in a Mk 1 Ford Focus. 

Dressed in a jumper layered over a shirt in a classic 90s look, he exited the car with a large grin on his face – the gleeful smile of a boy who’s been allowed behind the wheel for the first time.

Eager to get his full licence, William sat his theory test exam just a day after his 17th birthday and then booked his practical test.

Around five weeks later, the William passed his test after just 20 lessons in the driving seat. 

His father Charles then bought him his first car for his birthday, a black Volkswagen Golf.

He was snapped taking it for a spin around Cirencester Park Polo Club in 2001.

It seems his future wife had a similar taste in cars, as Kate too owned a VW Golf at around the same time.

She purchased the vehicle in 2001 while she was studying at University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she met the love of her life.

Audi A3  

The Princess of Wales then swapped her Golf in for a modest silver Audi A3 hatchback in 2007

Kate, who was around 25 at the time, was pictured driving her new silver Audi A3 

The Princess of Wales then swapped her Golf in for a modest silver Audi A3 hatchback in 2007.

She gave her old VW to her younger brother, James Middleton, who would have been around 20 years old at the time. 

Kate, who was around 25 at the time, was pictured stepping into her new car dressed head-to-toe in early noughties fashion consisting of a grey top, some shades and black boots.

Audi A5 and A7

The Princess of Wales is seen leaning on a grey Audi A5 at the Beaufort Polo Club in 2009

It seems the future King and Queen have a penchant for German manufacturers, so much that they continued to purchase Audis throughout the years. 

The Princess of Wales was spotted leaning on the door of a grey Audi A5 as she chatted with William’s private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton in 2009. 

At the time, the Prince of Wales was competing with his brother, Prince Harry, in The Chakravarty Cup at the Beaufort Polo Club. 

Around six years later, the future King and Queen were pictured getting into a new Audi A7 after the Audi Polo Challenge charity match at Coworth Park Polo Club.

Ducati 1198S

William’s Ducati is thought to be able to reach top speeds of 185mph, with him riding it in full leather motorcycle armour

Prince William was pictured arriving at a polo match at Coworth Park on a Ducati 1198S in 2009. 

It is thought the heir to the throne is a fan of bikes as well as cars, as he donned a blacked-out helmet on the motorbike. 

The Ducati is thought to be able to reach top speeds of 185mph, with William riding it in full leather motorcycle armour.  

Aston Martin DB6 MKII Vantage Volante

When Kate and William tied the knot in 2011, it was no surprise to royal fans that they would drive around in a flash car to celebrate the occasion – and chose the Aston Martin DB6 MKII Vantage Volante

When Kate and William tied the knot in 2011, it was no surprise to royal fans that they would drive around in a flash car to celebrate the occasion. 

They chose an Aston Martin as their special wedding car which they borrowed to drive from their reception at Buckingham Palace. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales married at the end of April, meaning spring was in full swing in the UK – allowing the couple to travel with the top down. 

The model, which had been gifted to the couple by King Charles, was souped up with L plates and Union Jack ribbons as they drove away from their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The DB6 was seen as a very stylish car to have at the time and stars such as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Twiggy and Peter Sellers also owned one. 

Charles received the model from his parents, the late Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip for his 21st birthday in 1969.

Range Rover 

Prince William chose to drive his firstborn son, Prince George, home from the hospital in a Range Rover on July 23, 2013

Prince William chose to drive his firstborn son, Prince George, home from the hospital in a Range Rover on July 23, 2013.

A beaming then-Duke of Cambridge carried his newborn son into the car while Kate smiled for the many cameras waiting for them outside from St Mary’s hospital.

The Royal Family have had a long history with the car brand dating back decades – with the late Queen owning many Range Rovers and Land Rovers. 

Her 2004 third-generation L322 Range Rover sold for a record £132,750 at auction in November 2023, more than a year after she died in September 2022.

It was sold that July for only 33,000 by Historics Auctioneers and although people believed it was owned by the royal, it had not been confirmed.

The car had blue lights in the grille and a dog guard and was later verified as the late Queen’s vehicle.

Electric Jaguar 

Princess of Wales switched to a £60,000 electric Jaguar in October 2019

Just a couple of years later, the Princess of Wales switched to a £60,000 electric Jaguar.

She first showcased her new environmentally-friendly vehicle when arriving at a charity dinner at Spring restaurant in London in October 2019 for a gala dinner to support Action On Addiction. 

Perhaps she took a leaf out of her father-in-law’s book as King Charles owns a Jaguar I-Pace which he bought back in 2018. 

An electric charging point was set up at the Prince’s London home, Clarence House.

It accelerates from rest to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 298 miles and enough battery charge to drive 300 miles from London to Newcastle on one charge. 

Audi SUV

In 2019, the-then Duchess of Cambridge was snapped smiling as she drove her children to Queen Elizabeth’s annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace

The same year, after Kate had both Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she stuck with Audi and bought an SUV.

In 2019, the-then Duchess of Cambridge was snapped smiling as she drove her children to Queen Elizabeth’s annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.

Princess Charlotte, who was around three years old at the time, smiled at the cameras from the back seat of the car. 

Land Rover 

The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to Prince Philip – William’s grandfather – by taking one of his classic green Land Rovers out for a spin in April 2021

The Royal Family have had a long history with Land Rovers, dating back several decades. 

In 1948, King George VI, the late Queen’s father, was given with the ceremonial 100th Land Rover ever built.  

Queen Elizabeth also received her first Land Rover in 1952 and was snapped driving around on various occasions. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to Prince Philip – William’s grandfather – by taking one of his classic green Land Rovers out for a spin in April 2021.

The couple drove it to an event at the Palace of Holyroodhouse which honoured health workers’ efforts to save lives throughout the pandemic.

Prince Philip had died from old age a month before they drove his beloved 1966 2A model, which was loaned to them by the late Queen.   

Audi RS E-Tron GT 

He was seen driving away from London Clinic, a private hospital in Marylebone, after visiting his wife who underwent abdominal surgery in January

It seems the Prince of Wales is also following his wife and father’s footsteps, as he got behind the wheel of an electric Audi in 2024.

He was seen driving away from London Clinic, a private hospital in Marylebone, after visiting his wife who underwent abdominal surgery in January. 

Prices for the car start at £127,000 and spend on what spec of vehicle you want to splash out on.  

The Audi can go from 0-60 mph in a time of just 3.1 seconds and has a 155 mph top track speed.

The German manufacturer said the performance was equivalent to the V10-powered Audi R8 supercar.