Further to King Charles III’s 77th birthday on 14 November, Marshall Motor Group, one of the UK’s largest motor retailers, has revealed the value of his car collection – estimated to be worth over £12 million.
The King’s garage represents a unique blend of vintage grandeur and environmental innovation, featuring everything from a 1950s Rolls-Royce Phantom to an Aston Martin DB6 powered by wine and cheese, plus modern electric models like the Jaguar I-PACE.
Interestingly, as recent royal auctions have demonstrated, the true value of these vehicles is far greater than their market price.
“Royal ownership transforms the value of any vehicle,” explains Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group.
“We saw this when the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Range Rover sold at auction for £150,000 – ten times its estimated £15,000 value. When you’re talking about vehicles with decades of royal history, particularly rare models gifted between family members, the sky’s the limit at auction.”
The King’s fleet includes both personal vehicles, which he privately owns, and state vehicles held by the Crown.
“While state vehicles aren’t personally owned by the King, they remain an essential part of his public image,” says Welham.
“These cars represent royal tradition and ceremony reserved for state occasions and public engagements. Many of them can’t be bought ‘off the shelf.’
“They’re bespoke and steeped in royal history, which elevates their value far beyond standard market rates.”
The King’s personal fleet – estimated to be valued at £11.5m
· 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV – £2.5m
· 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V – £2.5m
· Aston Martin DB6 Volante Series II (a gift from the Queen) – potentially £2m+
· Bentley State Limousine x2 – £1.4m each
· 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI – £1.3m
· Lotus Eletre – up to £140k
· Jaguar I-PACE – from £70k
· Audi e-tron – from £50k
· BMW i7 – at least £165k
Other royal vehicles include the Gold State Coach, which has been valued previously at £2m but is likely worth more thanks to its provenance.
There’s also the vintage car collection at Sandringham, estimated to be worth upwards of £2m and home to vehicles that have been part of the royal household, such as Rolls-Royces and Daimlers. It’s even home to an electric Citroën C4 from the 1920s that was used by the Queen and Princess Margaret as children.
What sets King Charles’ collection apart isn’t just its value, it’s his pioneering commitment to sustainable motoring, decades before electric vehicles became mainstream.
“Charles has been ahead of the curve on green motoring since long before it became fashionable,” says Welham.
“His Aston Martin DB6 famously runs on surplus wine and cheese whey, a biofuel conversion that seemed eccentric 20 years ago but now looks very innovative.”
The King’s modern fleet reflects this environmental consciousness. He was an early adopter of the Jaguar I-PACE, demonstrating his personal commitment to reducing emissions years before many manufacturers prioritised electric options.
Other electric models the King is known to enjoy includes the Audi e-tron and BMW i7.
King Charles is not the only royal with a passion for motoring. Here are some other world leaders with noteworthy collections of their own:
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei – $5 billion
Perhaps the most famous car collection in the world, the Sultan of Brunei has an estimated 7,000 cars, including some of the most luxurious models and one-offs.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – value of collection unknown
The ruler of Dubai also has a mouth-watering collection of the most exclusive and prestigious cars in the world, numbering in the hundreds if not thousands. Although its true worth is unknown, some estimate it to be the second most valuable in the world.
“Sheikh Mohammed’s garage is the stuff of legend, packed with some of the rarest and most powerful cars on the planet. He’s long been famous for his white Mercedes G63, which has become one of the leading status symbols in Dubai. It’s bold, powerful, and instantly recognisable, the kind of car that perfectly fits the city’s love of luxury and presence,” says Welham.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – $160 million+
Known as the ‘Rainbow Sheikh’ thanks to a fleet of Mercedes S-Classes in every colour on the spectrum, the Emirati royal’s collection is one of the most spectacular in the world. It’s also home to a giant Hummer and the world’s largest Jeep.
Image credit: Mediaworks
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