Royal FFRR question
Discussion
Pacman1978 said:
JPJPJP said:
Hardly matters really does it?
In reference to? Would William have undertaken some "blue light" training then? Pretty cool perk of the "job"!
He would certainly have had briefings from that outfit from Hereford, I think it's standard practice for royals and certain ministers .
I degree of driver training would seem sensible given his status on any target list .
Not sure why the OP is getting mocked a little bit here, it's an interesting question. I wonder other things too, like if its a blue light RR then is it one of a royal fleet that gets used for escort/PR/special journey purposes? Does every Royal car get the blue light treatment as a matter of course? Does Wills/Kate/Harry etc get to choose their own car down to the wheel design? Can Harry borrow the keys to Williams car or is that some logistical nightmare for his security?
All pointless questions but interesting nonetheless.
I do have one though - it always strikes me as a little strange their use of RR vehicles, the vehicle taxation system in this country seems to discourage purchasing of such vehicles. I wonder if the Royals will ever start using Tesla style electric cars?
All pointless questions but interesting nonetheless.
I do have one though - it always strikes me as a little strange their use of RR vehicles, the vehicle taxation system in this country seems to discourage purchasing of such vehicles. I wonder if the Royals will ever start using Tesla style electric cars?
zedstar said:
I do have one though - it always strikes me as a little strange their use of RR vehicles, the vehicle taxation system in this country seems to discourage purchasing of such vehicles. I wonder if the Royals will ever start using Tesla style electric cars?
Royal vehicles are on extremely favourable lease agreements, there was quite a fuss when it emerged the Middletons were included in the deal because of Kate. I would imagine they are now running Range Rover hybrids at the very least & they will be classed as `Crown vehicles` so VED exempt like Police vehicles & I assume other emergency service vehicles.Wouldn't surprise me if they become early adopters of Jaguar`s new i Pace too.
Think Charles had something converted to be more environment friendly in some way a few years back?
They seem to have cars from various manufacturers, VAG was one for some reason, Diana?
Tesla? Maybe Meghan will have one for sentimental reasons!!
hyphen said:
Pacman1978 said:
Just watched a random YouTube video of the Duke of Cambridge. Video was of him taking baby George home from hospital. Vehicle was a range rover.
Question is about the RR having blue (emergency services type) lights fitted. Car was his own personal vehicle.. He was definitely driving whilst blue lights were in operation.
Is this just another royal perk/exemption? Is it normal for royal family vehicles to be fitted with them?
Posting purely out of interest over the question, not a bash the royal family thread.
Appreciate any info :-)
FFRR?? Hand in your PH card and see yourself out.Question is about the RR having blue (emergency services type) lights fitted. Car was his own personal vehicle.. He was definitely driving whilst blue lights were in operation.
Is this just another royal perk/exemption? Is it normal for royal family vehicles to be fitted with them?
Posting purely out of interest over the question, not a bash the royal family thread.
Appreciate any info :-)
It was a Disco for Will's
https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/6128324/kate-willi...Any RR would therefore be royal protection officers
The OP said he watched of video of the Duke of Cambridge driving Prince George home from hospital.
Jim AK said:
Royal vehicles are on extremely favourable lease agreements, there was quite a fuss when it emerged the Middletons were included in the deal because of Kate. I would imagine they are now running Range Rover hybrids at the very least & they will be classed as `Crown vehicles` so VED exempt like Police vehicles & I assume other emergency service vehicles.
Wouldn't surprise me if they become early adopters of Jaguar`s new i Pace too.
Think Charles had something converted to be more environment friendly in some way a few years back?
They seem to have cars from various manufacturers, VAG was one for some reason, Diana?
Tesla? Maybe Meghan will have one for sentimental reasons!!
Manufacturers bid for the contract to supply the cars. I'm not sure that they are free or maybe just heavily discounted in return for the publicity and the potential enhanced resale value of an ex-Royal car (for example, the RR used by William to pick up George from the hospital was advertised for sale at 3 times the market value, no idea if it sold for that though).Wouldn't surprise me if they become early adopters of Jaguar`s new i Pace too.
Think Charles had something converted to be more environment friendly in some way a few years back?
They seem to have cars from various manufacturers, VAG was one for some reason, Diana?
Tesla? Maybe Meghan will have one for sentimental reasons!!
Jaguar Land Rover has the contract currently, replacing Audi who supplied cars for several years to the Duchy of Cornwall (Charles). As the costs of William and Harry were picked up by Charles his meant that they were supplied with Audis too.
ralphrj said:
Manufacturers bid for the contract to supply the cars. I'm not sure that they are free or maybe just heavily discounted in return for the publicity and the potential enhanced resale value of an ex-Royal car (for example, the RR used by William to pick up George from the hospital was advertised for sale at 3 times the market value, no idea if it sold for that though).
Jaguar Land Rover has the contract currently, replacing Audi who supplied cars for several years to the Duchy of Cornwall (Charles). As the costs of William and Harry were picked up by Charles.....
I’d be amazed if they pay anything for the cars - especially the higher ranking Royals. I read an article a while ago about JLR’s VIP scheme and an amazingly wide range of celebrities and sports people get JLR cars.Jaguar Land Rover has the contract currently, replacing Audi who supplied cars for several years to the Duchy of Cornwall (Charles). As the costs of William and Harry were picked up by Charles.....
Sheepshanks said:
I’d be amazed if they pay anything for the cars - especially the higher ranking Royals. I read an article a while ago about JLR’s VIP scheme and an amazingly wide range of celebrities and sports people get JLR cars.
Possibly, I wasn't sure if there would be tax implications if it was totally free.On a slightly separate note, in the case of long term loaners to the press, I was under the impression that the publisher was charged interest on the value of the car which would make it a loan.
Premium manufacturers all have celebrity fleets for marketing purposes. Back in 2005, when I worked at MB, I once parked next to an almost identical E-Class in Salcombe in Devon. Our cars were exactly the same spec and colour and nearly consecutive number plates. The "owner" of the other car was England's Rugby World Cup winning captain, Martin Johnson.
ralphrj said:
On a slightly separate note, in the case of long term loaners to the press, I was under the impression that the publisher was charged interest on the value of the car which would make it a loan.
I always wonder how that's done as the testers seem to spec the cars to their own requirements, often throwing many £K's of options even on fairly mundane cars.ralphrj said:
Premium manufacturers all have celebrity fleets for marketing purposes. Back in 2005, when I worked at MB, I once parked next to an almost identical E-Class in Salcombe in Devon. Our cars were exactly the same spec and colour and nearly consecutive number plates. The "owner" of the other car was England's Rugby World Cup winning captain, Martin Johnson.
Where you there when MB infamously had Wayne Rooney as an 'ambassador'? Their extended family all had Mercs - his Dad's got nicked from a filling station.Red 4 said:
Sneeky strobes behind the grille and 2 rear view mirrors. Just in case.
Probably armoured too. (Or maybe not - looking at the window).
second rear view mirror is probably standard 'authorities' spec ... Probably armoured too. (Or maybe not - looking at the window).
Edited by Red 4 on Monday 28th May 12:05
volvo 'authorities spec' v40 and v70 used to come with a second passenger side external mirror as well - useful for double crewed traffic cars / arvs perhaps less so in an ambulance RRV / Immediate care scheme Doctor car or fire service officer / manager car
zedstar said:
........I wonder other things too, like........... Does every Royal car get the blue light treatment as a matter of course?.....
Most likely, yes.zedstar said:
......Does Wills/Kate/Harry etc get to choose their own car down to the wheel design?......
When it comes to the cars used for "everyday" use, it would appear that they either have little choice in the cars made available to them, or little interest in cars (ever seen William or Harry behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Maserati, Aston Martin [apart from William and Kate using Prince Charles' Aston as a wedding car], Porsche etc,. etc.? I don't get the impression that any of the younger royals are that into cars TBH.
zedstar said:
.......Can Harry borrow the keys to Williams car or is that some logistical nightmare for his security?.......
Why would Harry need to borrow his brother's car? 
- I'm pretty sure Harry has more than one car available to him to use at a moments notice if required.zedstar said:
.....I do have one though - it always strikes me as a little strange their use of RR vehicles, the vehicle taxation system in this country seems to discourage purchasing of such vehicles.....
The Range Rover is a big, luxurious vehicle, that gives its passengers a pampered, almost Rolls Royce quality ride, whilst being strong enough, and powerful enough to push its way out of most situations if required, it has great off-road capability when required, and there is plenty of room inside it to add any required armour. Frankly, it's an ideal choice for transporting Royals around in. It is not up to the Royals to set an example to the rest of the nation when it comes to transport choices (It's akin to asking why the Queen has a great big Bentley for her official state car, when a suitably modified Ford Mondeo would serve the exact same purpose).
As for the taxation system trying to discourage the purchase of such vehicles - It's obviously not working, as more and more manufacturers are either adding, or looking to add, large SUV's to their range (Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, and Rolls Royce at the higher end [and God forbid it ever happens, but even Ferrari are being touted as planning to come out with an SUV!] ), and just about every mainstream, everyday manufacturer has at least one SUV in their range, including the likes of Alfa Romeo now!
The fact is, the sale of SUV's is massively on the increase - Regardless of the taxation situation.
zedstar said:
I wonder if the Royals will ever start using Tesla style electric cars?
Doubtful - They will more likely be in a Jaguar or Range Rover electric vehicle before a Tesla.grumpy52 said:
I wonder if the protection officers all had kittens when Harry went through his motorcycle phase ?
I'm sure I read somewhere that several of the protection officers had a lot of training to enable them to follow William and Harry on their bikes, I'm sure it was also remarked that Harry in particular was pretty handy and could be difficult to keep up withzedstar said:
I do have one though - it always strikes me as a little strange their use of RR vehicles, the vehicle taxation system in this country seems to discourage purchasing of such vehicles.
I think they can probably afford it. Besides, the UK has cheap car tax for a country of that wealth.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff