You Have Queen Elizabeth To Thank For the Tail Gate

England’s royal family has long been Land Rover fans; Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, was an early adopter of Land Rover, ordering several “Royal Clarets,” as the ceremonial touring vehicles are called when the company first got its start. “Royal Claret” references the burgundy paint color. The color is reserved for the British royal family; no other Land Rover can be painted Claret. 

The King liked that Land Rovers could easily be modified for a chauffeur to drive while the King and his family stood in the rear eliciting the “royal wave” to crowds along the tour route. It was also handy that the hearty suspension of Land Rovers meant no terrain was off limits: Beaches, fields, hills and more could be part of a royal tour.

Read: Land Rover Doubles Down On More Seating With The 2023 Defender 130

Photos of Queen Elizabeth II in her Land Rovers on her estates at Balmoral and Sandringham are quite iconic. As monarchs go, she could be very hands on, a trait she no doubt sharpened when she served in the British Army and trained as a mechanic; she was known even late in life for diagnosing mechanical issues with cars and driving a stick shift, which was the only option in cars when she learned to drive.

But she was also a benevolent monarch, throwing endless support behind home-grown carmakers including Land Rover. “They would send somebody up to Balmoral with a new car that had just come out,” said Mike Bishop, Land Rover’s official historian. “A commercial version, not a Royal version, and she used to give her opinion of it.” 

Interestingly, when the Queen bought a Land Rover or Range Rover for use on her estate, she opted for the top of the line model but mostly went with what was offered. Unless she had a special request. 

Read: Destination Defender Is the Poshest Place to Get Dirty

When the Queen took delivery of the 1954 Land Rover NXN 1, a two-door open air off-roader, she appreciated that the cargo area had upholstered seats on either side. But the tail gate folded out and flat, like a pickup truck’s gate. The Queen requested it be split and hinged to open outward and a step installed to better accommodate people and of course, her Corgies. 

Read: We Explored Portugal, and the Christian Louboutin Hotel, in the Ultimate Range Rover Sport SV

With the delivery of her 1983 Land Rover Defender 110, a four-door off-roader that is much more like the SUVs we drive today, the Queen immediately recognized a need for grab bars to make the climb into the cabin easier. Land Rover installed metal handles on the outside of the Defender’s doors and canvas straps inside.

And think about it: Her car potentially ferried a pregnant Princess Diana, the Queen Mum, and then, young William and Harry, as well as other family members young and old. Grab bars are helpful to get in and out easily, and even though these were not new ideas, they were new to Defender and became a staple on family cars. 

The Queen’s Land Rover Defender 110 very much laid the groundwork for what would become the modern family SUV: two rows of seating plus additional seats in the cargo area. And, room for the Corgies. Mike pointed out the scratch linoleum on the floor of the cargo area, marks left from years of her dogs hopping in and riding along. 

To keep them safe, and from jumping into the center row or being projected through the cabin because of a sudden stop, she asked Land Rover to install a metal grille between the rear seats and cargo space. This, too, became a much more common features. 

When King George VI died and Elizabeth became queen, she embarked on a tour of the Kingdom which included Australia and New Zealand. To accommodate the her tour the monarchy contracted to have several Royal Clarets built on site. 

The Royal Clarets were modified Range Rovers; the cargo was opened and upholstered with comfortable leather seats and support bars that could be pulled out for the Queen and her companions to lean against and hold on to.

I had the rare chance to see some of the Queen’s car collection up close recently at a Destination Defender event in California. Hearing that the cars would be there made this event an instant must-attend. But I wasn’t ready to be so touched by the cars. 

There were two of her personal Land Rovers on display and three royal ceremonial cars. But it was the personal SUVs that really struck me. They were pretty basic and didn’t feel “royal.” They had things that were innovative but we take for granted now, like windshield wipers and a heater, which on the 1954 Land Rover NXN 1 was an upgrade. And they were both manual transmission. 

They were also very inspiring. Mike opened up the ’83 Defender so I could see the cabin, the switches and controls, and the green leather upholstery, cracked and worn after years of use. 

More impactful than just seeing her cars, though, was taking in the fragrance of her royal life, lived in this car. The leather, age, time; it reminded me of getting into my grandmother’s car, its leather seats fragrant from baking in the sun and freezing in the winter. Standing there taking in the Queen’s cars took me to another time and place and let me peek into the life she lived, privileged, yes but also, capable and hearty. 

And problem-solving, which was the one thing I didn’t expect from seeing Queen Elizabeth’s cars: the common every-day things she recognized we all needed, and then, found a solution that would make all our lives better.