Former palace staffer reveals King Charles’s car sticker | Royal | News

A former butler to King Charles has spoken about the many cars the monarch has driven in his lifetime, and some have special features or additions. This includes a Jaguar on which a small, but pertinent, message about the King’s stance on nature is displayed. Speaking on behalf of Select Car Leasing, Grant claimed: “He also has a Jaguar which has a big sticker on the back saying ‘Save the Red Squirrel’.”

The endangered native animal has seen a severe population decline due to the introduction of American grey squirrels. For over 50 years, Charles has been a prominent advocate for environmental sustainability, focusing on organic farming, climate change action, and biodiversity conservation. He established organic practices at his Highgrove estate and is a passionate champion for conserving natural landscapes.

The Jaguar is one of many British cars at the King’s disposal, including Land Rovers, a Lotus, and others. However, there is one car that stands out above the rest – and that is his Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante, which was given to him by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as a 21st birthday present.

Furthermore, as the car has got older, it has been modified to be more environmentally friendly. Grant said: “He’s so conscious of the environment, and was long before it became mainstream. He was always looking for ways he could to protect the environment, it’s something he’s so passionate about.”

Grant added that Charles is “very protective” of the car and rarely lets anyone else drive it. Prince William drove it when he got married to Princess Kate, and a chef once had to drive it back from an airport, resulting in “a big hoo-ha” as Charles gave a list of dos and don’ts about how to operate the car.

Grant also revealed that whilst the King doesn’t need a driving licence, he has one anyway, this is because they are issued in the name of his Government.

Grant’s comments come after it was reported that a new car is set to join the royal fleet: a Lotus Eletre SUV costing north of £100,000.

The Anglo-Chinese car can go from 0 to 62mph in less than 3 seconds and reach a top speed of over 160mph; it also has a range of around 280 miles and over 900hp.

It was announced in 2024 that two Bentleys, also on the royal fleet, would be converted to run on biofuel to reduce the royal household’s carbon footprint.