For his first state visit as king, Charles III went to Germany on 29, 30 and 31 March 2023. The sovereign was accompanied by his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, but also … his Bentley! The royal vehicle returns to Berlin after a previous visit made by Elizabeth II in 2015.
Never without my Bentley. Wednesday, March 29, 2023, while he was expected in Berlin by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender on the first day of his state visit, Charles III made a remarkable entrance. The sovereign drove to the Brandenburg Gate in the Bentley State Limousine, his royal vehicle. Although he travelled from London in the Royal Air Force Airbus Voyager – escorted by two German fighter jets – the father of Princes William and Harry was soon reunited with his beloved vehicle, once on the tarmac. The car had been transported to Berlin at the expense of the Bentley company.
A true flagship of the British automotive industry, this particular model has a body and armored windows. For added security, the cabin can also be sealed in case of a gas attack. The car is blast resistant and its tires are equipped with Kevlar reinforcement to prevent punctures. It is this state-of-the-art equipment that justifies Charles III always traveling with the Bentley State Limousine, even abroad.
The Bentley State Limousine, Elizabeth II’s legacy
If Charles III is today the owner of this exceptional vehicle, he is not the first beneficiary. In 2002, the Bentley company donated two personalized models to Elizabeth II on the occasion of her golden jubilee. The grandmother of Princes Harry and William will use them until her death in September 2022, including during her last state visit to Germany, made in June 2015. After the death of the Queen, the royal vehicle is driven by Princess Anne, who accompanies the coffin of his mother in his last journey from Balmoral to London. Now King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Charles III keeps the tradition alive and honors the memory of his dear and loving mother, to whom he paid tribute on the second day of his Berlin stopover, as he addressed the Bundestag on Thursday, March 30.
Photo credits: Imago / Panoramic / Bestimage