The Queen’s automotive visits

TRIBUTE Car Dealer looks back at some of the automotive visits made by the Queen during her reign

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

Following the Queen’s death on September 8, tributes poured in from all over the globe.

The motor trade was no different, and on our website we shared some of the condolences sent from those within the automotive industry.

During her 70-year reign, the monarch visited a number of motoring institutions and met countless figures from within the industry.

After her passing, we delved into the archives and found a treasure trove of images dating all the way back to the 1950s.

We hope you enjoy our own tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

1958

Six years after ascending the throne, the Queen travelled to France with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

While in the country, the pair went to the Renault car factory at Flins, where the monarch was pictured bringing the production lines to a stop with the push of one control panel button.

1966

The Queen is shown around Aston Martin. The firm shared an image from the day on social media after her death.

1998

Her Majesty went to Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, where she opened a new Jaguar plant that remains in operation to this day.

During the October visit, she was photographed chatting to staff including group leader Dave Upton and Jaguar’s thenchairman and CEO, Nick Scheele.

In April, the Queen was abroad – this time on a state visit to South Korea.

During the second day of the trip, she and Prince Philip were shown around the Daewoo plant in Seoul.

The pair were snapped looking suitably impressed at a garishly yellow Matiz and a grey Nubira II.

2003

Aside from visiting car factories, the Queen also championed a number of charitable causes.

For many years, she served as Motability’s chief patron and handed over the keys to Motability Scheme cars on several occasions.

In 2003, she attended an event for the charity at the Royal Mews and met with recipients of cars again in 2008. Closer to home, the Queen visited the London HQ of Shell to celebrate the firm’s centenary in 2001.

Company officials showed the monarch around the site – she even stopped to admire Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F1 car.

2004

The monarch had another brush with F1 when she was shown around McLaren’s base near Woking.

During the visit, she posed next to a McLaren Mercedes supercar as well as David Coulthard’s Grand Prix car.

2013

Such was the Queen’s interest in the automotive world that when she hosted the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace in 2013, Bentley and Jaguar Land Rover were invited.

During the event, she met and chatted with a Bentley craftsman who gave her a demonstration of his skills.

2014

Despite being pictured in a number of different cars down the years, it is probably Land Rover with which the Queen is most closely associated.

In 2014, she took in a tour of the firm’s Wolverhampton engine plant, alongside Prince Philip.

The couple were shown engines at various stages of development and even signed the plant’s visitors book.