At the beginning of May, an enlarged visitor center will debut at the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, featuring a landmark that has drawn over 7.5 million visitors—more people than reside in either Scotland, Norway, or Denmark combined. Given the plethora of impressive facts associated with HMY Britannia, some narratives might get overshadowed; one such tale involves the automobiles onboard—a narrative deserving greater attention.
Even with the advancements in superyachts, megayachts, and giganauts over the past 72 years since Britannia set sail, incorporating car storage onboard still remains uncommon. This necessity demands ample space, specialized knowledge, and coordination with port facilities. Given her impressive 412-foot length (falling well within "giga" category standards), along with more than 240 royal crew members and an owner who led the British Commonwealth, Britannia was equipped to handle such a challenge.
The yacht was equipped with two "matching" cars: one that alternated between blue and green. Land Rover Series 1 , along with a Royal Claret and Royal Black Rolls-Royce Phantom.
The robust Land Rovers remained operational for many more years than the Rolls-Royces onboard, yet the Phantoms' distinctive characteristics render them the most memorable vehicles today.
The two Rolls-Royces
Soon after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II Daimler was replaced by Rolls-Royce as the state car supplier, leading to the creation of a Phantom IV Hooper landaulet specifically for her during the construction of Britannia. The vehicle was designed to fit inside the yacht’s garage. It embarked with them in 1956 for a tour of Nigeria.
Next arrived the Phantom V Park Ward limousine, which revolutionized regal automotive transportation: a massive 6.2-liter V8 engine with air conditioning and distinct customizations for the two vehicles commissioned by the Queen—taller rooftops and clear Perspex panels at the rear to cover the back seats.
Supplying these cars in 1961 and 1962, Rolls-Royce called them Canberras, for discretion, implying the client was Australian.
The chassis numbers were 5AS33 and 5AT34 (the late Queen never used vehicle registration plates) and they were the Number 1 and Number 2 State cars until 1978, the highest ranking going to the most recent car.
Lifting and stowing
Getting these cars on and off the yacht did not happen quickly. First, it required davits, or craning equipment. A raft with inflatable sides was used for the Land Rovers, which tended to be stowed on deck in a forward position, but the Canberras, each weighing three tons, required a transporter or carrying platform that moved on rails sunk into the teak deck. At nearly 20ft in length, the Canberras also needed their front and rear bumpers to be removable.
They were stowed in a roller-door garage, inboard of the Royal Barge, which had to be lowered out of the way to move the cars in and out. Their ultra-polished surfaces received extra protection from snug-fitting covers.
“It all looked like quite the rigamarole,” says Steve Hislop, an ex-rigger and sailmaker on Britannia. “There were a lot of Yachtsmen involved; a thorough run-through to hone the disembarkation process could last a working day.”
The Phantoms’ onward journeys were seldom easier. For the Phantom IV’s trip to Nigeria in 1956, Rolls-Royce sent two engineers, T Johnson and W Garner. Given the dusty roads, the heat (Nigeria’s sunshine could make a car’s bodywork too hot to touch), petrol that needed to be constantly strained plus agitated officialdom, Mr Garner received the Royal Victoria Medal for his contribution to the tour’s success. Mr Johnson was awarded the MVO.
For a visit to New Zealand in 1963, it was considered impolitic to disembark the Number 1 car (Canberra 5AT34) at all, after learning of the colossal amount of money New Zealand had spent refurbishing its own ceremonial car fleet. Landing one of the cars in Wellington in 1970 required the underside to be steam cleaned because of New Zealand’s then-strict precautions against foot-and-mouth disease.
Land Rover legacy
The Land Rover became the preferred vehicle not only for Commonwealth tours but also for the late Queen’s cherished summer family cruises through the Scottish Western Isles, where the inflatable raft came into its own.
Even as recently as 1994, the train known as Canberra 5AT34 traveled to St Petersburg in Russia separately from Britannia for what would become one of the most unforgettable royal tours ever.
The tall ceiling ensured that the Queen hardly needed to bend when entering or exiting her vehicle, providing ample space for hats and allowing the eagerly awaiting public to clearly view her right up until the end—this was also evident in the design of her funeral coach. Prince Philip enjoyed keeping a road atlas nearby so he could easily track their planned route. The Phantom IV featured concealed reading lights beneath flaps located in the walnut paneling along the sides.
Among just 18 Silver Ghost Phantoms ever constructed, this particular model gained popularity with the Prince and Princess of Wales between the 1980s and early 1990s due to an increased interior headroom, making it simpler and more graceful for them to exit the vehicle at nighttime events.
What became of the Rolls?
The Phantom IV and two Canberras stayed at the Royal Mews up till 2002. That year, both the Phantom IV and the Canberra 5AS33 were traded with Bentley as partial payment for something else. Two new state limousines were supplied by Bentley. That particular year, "part exchange" may appear as an unusual phrase when referring to royal vehicles. However, this makes sense once you understand that the Royal Mews neither purchases nor sells these automobiles. The subsequent Canberra, designated as 5AT34, can currently be seen in the Stables Courtyard at Sandringham.
In her new residence in Edinburgh, the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust made efforts to acquire one of those vintage automobiles for their collection. However, they discovered another former regal vehicle: a different ex-royal Phantom V—not from Canberra nor with a high roof—but previously owned by Sir Angus Ogilvy and Princess Alexandra. The car was originally part of the holdings of Gary Gifford, the entrepreneur behind a thriving Essex-based drainage firm and a devoted monarchist. In 2000, Gifford lent his Phantom V to the Britannia, where it stayed until his untimely death in a vehicular accident in 2005.
The trust subsequently succeeded in borrowing Canberra 5AS33 from Bentley. This marked the reunion of the late Queen’s initial Canberra with her cherished former yacht. However, as Bentley aimed to concentrate on its own historical vessel collection, they decided to sell the vehicle through Bonhums in 2018 via a private treaty sale. Since then, it has been relocated to the Middle East and is currently reported to be part of the exhibit at the Royal Cars Museum in Muscat, under the auspices of the Sultanate of Oman.
The self-funded trust managed by Britannia was unable to substantiate the claimed multimillion-pound amount required for its maintenance, as well as the confidential selling price of the Phantom IV, which was auctioned off through Bonhams in 2018. The vehicle ended up with Stephen Brauer, an American entrepreneur who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, a passionate collector, and a known admirer of all things British. Today, this car is showcased in his museum located in St. Louis, Missouri; inside, the cabin has been designed to resemble a post-World War II Earl’s Court auto exhibition featuring custom-made British vehicles.
Land Rover on display
Britannia’s trust has concentrated on the more functional and budget-friendly Land Rovers. In 2019, they acquired a Royal Navy Oxford Blue 1950 Land Rover from John Brown 4x4, a company based in Yorkshire. This choice was appealing not just because it was a top provider of vintage Land Rovers but also due to its name matching that of the shipbuilder—John Brown & Company from Clydebank.
The outcome is an exhibit model that closely mirrors the original Land Rovers, using old photographs for reference, and features contemporary oil seals underneath. (One of these original Land Rovers can currently be seen touring North America under Jaguar Land Rover’s Classic Works banner; however, it is usually housed at their Classic Works facility located in Coventry.)
The pinnacle of civilization was truly embodied by the British Empire," asserts Mr. Brauer from St. Louis. "From the design of Britannia to the interiors, it mirrors the same combination of sophistication and moderation seen in those handcrafted automobiles.
Taking care of these artifacts requires a strong heart, though. "We recently found a leak in the cylinder head of the Phantom IV which is currently undergoing rewelding," explains Mr. Brauer. "We sincerely hope and pray that this repair works out because thorough investigations have shown that there isn’t even a single replacement part available anywhere."
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