Five royal vehicles from the personal and state fleet of Queen Elizabeth II are currently on display in Toronto for a limited time. This special exhibit is located in the Distillery District and will be open to the public on the weekend of May 10 and 11, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The exhibit showcases an impressive collection of vehicles that have been meticulously restored as a tribute to Her Majesty, alongside Jaguar Land Rover, which has held a royal warrant as an official supplier of vehicles to the Royal Family since 1948. This relationship began when King George VI selected an original model of Land Rover for both state and personal use.
In April 2024, King Charles III granted Jaguar Land Rover a royal warrant, further extending the historic partnership between the automaker and the current monarchy. Additionally, Queen Camilla has also awarded a royal warrant to the company, marking Jaguar Land Rover as one of the few corporations honored with warrants from both the King and Queen.
A royal warrant signifies recognition for companies that consistently provide goods or services to the royal household, underscoring the excellence and quality of their offerings. Below are highlights of the vehicles featured in the Toronto exhibit.
1954 Land Rover Series I State Review Vehicle
This vehicle was the first State Review Land Rover, featuring a custom-designed rear platform. It accompanied Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on a six-month tour of the Commonwealth. Notably, this particular unit was sent to Australia during the tour and is now maintained by a private collector in the United States.
1954 Land Rover Series I (NXN 1)
This vehicle, originally ordered by King George VI, was used by Queen Elizabeth II and other senior Royals at Balmoral. It was restored by Land Rover apprentices in 2010 and is now part of the Land Rover Classic collection.
1983 Defender 110 V8
Commissioned specifically by Queen Elizabeth II, the 1983 Defender 110 V8 was utilized across the Crown estates of Sandringham and Balmoral. The vehicle is designed for rural transport and royal activities, equipped with special features and finished in dark green paint—selected by the Queen herself. This vehicle is held in the British Motor Museum collection.
1990 Range Rover State Review Vehicle
The second State Review Range Rover ever created, this vehicle was notably featured on Queen Elizabeth II’s 1994 Christmas card, depicting the royal couple at the 50th Anniversary of D-Day Landings in Arromanches, France. It too is included in the British Motor Museum collections.
2005 Range Rover L322 State Review
This is the fifth State Review vehicle provided by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations, painted in a royal claret color and adorned with hand-painted crests. The unique rear platform enables royal parties to make public appearances smoothly, complete with a tailgate that folds down to provide stairs for easy access. This vehicle was memorably used to transport the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry during Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday parade in 2016. It is also part of the British Motor Museum collection.
Overall, the exhibition presents a unique opportunity for the public to connect with royal history and the remarkable vehicles that played a significant role in the life of the British monarchy.
