Asger Risom
A Bentley Mulsanne once used by King Charles III during his time as Prince of Wales is set to go under the hammer next month, giving collectors another rare chance to own a piece of royal motoring history.
A Bentley Mulsanne once used by King Charles III during his time as Prince of Wales is set to go under the hammer next month, giving collectors another rare chance to own a piece of royal motoring history — just months after Queen Elizabeth II’s former Range Rover fetched £175,000 at auction.
A royal Bentley in pristine condition
The 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, finished in traditional royal livery, was originally part of Bentley Motors’ Press and Special Vehicles Department before being assigned to the Royal Household in December 2013. It was used by King Charles for numerous official engagements across the UK.
Auctioneers H&H Classics describe the car as being in “excellent condition throughout,” with only 35,000 miles on the clock. The Mulsanne has been privately owned since 2023 and is expected to sell for between £80,000 and £100,000 when it goes to auction on December 3 at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
Collectors and royal enthusiasts alike are expected to bid strongly, given the growing appetite for vehicles with royal provenance.
A record year for royal cars
This sale comes shortly after another royal vehicle made headlines earlier this year — Queen Elizabeth II’s 2006 Range Rover V8 Supercharged, which sold for £175,000 at the Silverstone Festival, far exceeding its initial estimate of £50,000 to £70,000.
The L322-generation Range Rover, finished in the Royal Household’s signature Tonga Green with Sand Oxford leather and extended burr walnut trim, was one of the few cars the late monarch personally drove. She used it frequently around Windsor Castle and was photographed behind the wheel at the 2007 Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Originally supplied by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, the car came fitted with unique modifications tailored to the Queen’s needs, including reinforced wiring for security communications, grab handles for easier access, and a dog guard for her corgis. It is also believed to be the only supercharged L322 model ever owned by the Royal Family, powered by a 4.2-litre Jaguar-derived V8 engine.
Royal provenance drives value
The soaring sale price of the Queen’s Range Rover underscored the strong demand for royal vehicles, which combine collectible status with documented historical significance. “Vehicles with such distinguished provenance rarely enter the market,” said Rob Hubbard, Managing Director and Principal Auctioneer at Iconic Auctioneers, before the sale.
Experts believe King Charles’ Bentley could follow a similar trajectory, especially given his long association with the brand. Bentley supplied a number of vehicles to the Royal Household during his tenure as Prince of Wales, and the Mulsanne was often seen during official visits and engagements.
Heritage on wheels
Royal cars have long fascinated collectors not just for their craftsmanship, but for their glimpse into the private and public lives of Britain’s most famous family. The fact that both the late Queen and the King favoured British marques such as Bentley and Land Rover further cements their place in the nation’s automotive heritage.
As the Bentley prepares to go under the hammer in December, enthusiasts will be watching closely to see whether it can match the Queen’s record-breaking Range Rover — or even exceed it.
This article is made and published by Asger Risom, who may have used AI in the preparation
