1956 Land Rover Series I 86" Commissioned for Royal Duties

Remarks

The late Queen and Prince Philip accepted an invitation from King Gustav and Queen Louise of Sweden to stay on privately after the official visit to Sweden in 1956, in order to attend the Olympic Equestrian Competitions in Stockholm, which took place from the 11th to the 16th of June. The Summer Games were being held in Melbourne in November / December 1956, but couldn’t include the equestrian competitions due to Australia’s strict quarantine regulations, so they were held in Sweden instead. One of the equestrian events was the cross-country Endurance Test, for which it was desirable for The Queen to have a Land Rover which could be used to drive round the course and get a good view of the various jumps. The Crown Equerry organised the supply of two Land Rovers from the Rover Company in Birmingham for use during the cross-country day, which took place on 13th June 1956. The Land-Rovers were prepared at the factory in Solihull, Birmingham and then sent out to Sweden by a boat which sailed on 18th May 1956, consigned for the Land Rover distributor in Stockholm. Two short wheelbase vehicles (86 inch wheelbase) were selected with the following special items incorporated: The canvas hood was designed so that both the side panels as well as the rear panel could be rolled up and secured in the rolled position by buckles and straps. If the weather was good, the canvas hood could be removed, if it was particularly bad then it gave overhead cover. A car type bench front seat in the front of the vehicle with folding arm squab designed to accommodate a driver and one passenger. A folding step below the front door on the passenger side. The tailboards were modified, being split down the middle and hinged on both sides vertically so that the two resultant small tailboard doors could be opened sideways which, together with the rear step, facilitated entrance and exit to the rear body section. Both front and rear floors had green rubber fluted mats. The rear body section incorporated four individual type seats with hand rails. Both vehicles were finished in standard Land Rover green, with Trakgrip tread tyres to give the best traction across country. A service engineer was sent by the Rover Company for the duration of the visit to ensure the cars were turned out in good working order on the days required. Unfortunately, the records don’t clarify who actually drove the Land Rovers. The Rover Company offered to send one driver and arrange for a second to be provided locally. However, one letter on file notes that at this kind of event in England The Queen was usually driven by either The Duke of Edinburgh or a member of her suite, such as the Duke of Beaufort, and also suggests that in Sweden either the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Gloucester, or the Military Attache, Lt Col Smiley, might drive the Land Rovers… A letter to the Crown Equerry from the British Embassy in Stockholm (who organised obtaining the vehicles) notes that the Embassy would make the final arrangements - as to whether to accept the offer of drivers -via a telephone call. Sadly, the outcome of the call or details of the arrangements made aren’t recorded on… Following the visit the Crown Equerry wrote thanking the Rover Company for providing the two Land Rovers, saying that they proved to be exceedingly useful and that The Queen thought they looked very smart. Finally, there is also a reference to The Queen and Princess Margaret being in the Land Rover in the attached newspaper article (sorry it’s so small!)