King Charles’ Royal Jaguar Is Up for Grabs
A 2018 Jaguar I-Pace originally bought by King Charles III will soon be going under the gavel at Historics Auctioneers.
The top-spec EV400 HSE reportedly arrived painted in Eiger Grey, but, at the King’s insistence, was sent back to Jaguar to be repainted in his favorite color, Loire Blue. The cabin is trimmed, appropriately, in Light Oyster Windsor leather. The sticker price, when new, was around £60,000 (roughly $84,000).
Well-known for his environmental conscience, Charles has previously converted an Aston Martin to run on bio-fuel, but the Jag was his first electric car.
It wasn’t, however, the first EV to feature in the Royal Family garage. At the turn of the 20th century, the Royals were remarkably carbon-neutral, with Queen Alexandra owning a 1901 Columbia, which was capable of achieving 40 miles on a single charge. “Her Majesty is delighted with the ease and simplicity of control and manipulation,” said The Autocar at the time.
That car is now on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and is unlikely to hit the road again.
Meanwhile, the King’s EV has seen plenty of use. Charles drove it for some 3,000 miles before returning it to Jaguar in 2020, after which it was sold through Jaguar North Oxford.
The current owner, Karen French of Bampton, had no idea of its royal provenance when she bought the car and it didn’t stop her from covering an additional 30,000 miles.
“This I-Pace was exactly what I was looking for and pretty much on my doorstep,” she said. “It was only when I agreed to buy it that I discovered its extraordinary history—I was absolutely thrilled.”
She will, no doubt, be even more thrilled if the car achieves its estimate of £55,000–£70,000 ($69,400–$88,300) when it goes to auction at Ascot Racecourse, where royal fans also have the chance to bid on a 2003 Bentley Arnage R that was bought new by Princess Anne. With a presale estimate of £26,000–£32,000 ($32,800–$40,300), it’s less than half the price of the King’s Jag as well!
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