'I worked for King Charles – the sticker on his car shows what he truly cares about'
A former royal butler has claimed that King Charles has a number of cars at his disposal, including a Jaguar decorated with a 'big sticker'.
A former butler to King Charles has lifted the lid on the Royal Family's impressive car collection, revealing which vehicles the monarch personally gets behind the wheel of.
Grant Harrold has disclosed that, amongst the numerous cars the King has driven throughout his life, several boast unique features or bespoke additions.
One such example is a Jaguar bearing a small yet telling message that reflects the King's well-known passion for environmental causes.
Speaking on behalf of Select Car Leasing, Grant revealed: "He also has a Jaguar which has a big sticker on the back saying 'Save the Red Squirrel'."
The Jaguar is just one of several British marques available to the King, alongside Land Rovers, a Lotus, and various others.
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Yet one vehicle reigns supreme above all others — his Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante, presented to him by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as a 21st birthday gift.
What's more, as the iconic car has aged, it has been adapted to become considerably more eco-friendly. Converted to run on wine and cheese waste rather than fossil fuels, Grant revealed the modification proved to be a great source of amusement amongst staff and Prince William alike.
He explained: "But the interesting thing about it is that he had it modified in 2008 so it runs on wine and cheese. We couldn't believe it when we found out, we used to joke about it a lot in the staff room. Prince William used to mock his dad for it a lot, in a loving way of course, but it's just such a random thing to do.
"But he's so conscious of the environment, and was long before it became mainstream. He was always looking for ways he could to protect the environment, it's something he's so passionate about."
Grant revealed that Charles is "very protective" of the vehicle and seldom allows anyone else behind the wheel. Prince William drove it on the occasion of his wedding to Kate Middleton, and a chef was once required to drive it back from an airport, sparking "a big hoo-ha" as Charles provided a detailed list of do's and don'ts regarding how to handle the car.
Grant also disclosed that while the King has no legal obligation to hold a driving licence, he possesses one regardless, as licences are issued in the name of his government.
Grant's remarks follow reports that a new addition to the royal fleet was on the horizon, in the form of a Lotus Eletre SUV priced at upwards of £100,000.
The Anglo-Chinese vehicle is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62mph in under three seconds, with a top speed exceeding 160mph, a range of approximately 280 miles and in excess of 900hp.
It was announced in 2024 that two Bentleys also forming part of the royal fleet would be converted to run on biofuel, in a bid to reduce the royal household's carbon footprint.
