Kate Middleton will be driven in a Rolls-Royce Phantom to Westminster Abbey for her wedding with Prince William on 29 April. The claret and black Rolls-Royce is a exclusive Phantom VI model, which was a present to the Queen on her Silver Jubilee in 1977. It is the same vehicle which was damaged in the student protests in December last year when the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were heading to the Royal Variety Performance. The Rolls-Royce limousine was splattered with white paint and had a rear window cracked.

“There was paint damage and damage to the glass,” said Alex Garty, transport manager at Buckingham Palace. “The repairs are ongoing. We’re using that opportunity to give her a 60-minute makeover, so she will look her best for the wedding.”

Crown Equerry Col Toby Browne has revealed that the vehicle is currently being repaired and prepared especially for Kate and Prince William’s wedding on 29 April. The car has an extra high roofline, which will give well wishers a good view of the bride to be as she heads to the Abbey.

The Phantom VI, is not the rarest of Rolls-Royce Phantom cars. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be driven to the ceremony in a 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV. The Phantom IV is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce model ever built, commissioned exclusively for royalty and heads of state. Only 18 were made between 1950 and 1956 and only 16 survive. The Phantom IV was first commissioned by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1949 and effectively marked the end of Daimlers royal monopoly when it was publicly announced in 1950; “designed to the special order of Their Royal Highnesses, the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh”.

As the car was privately owned when delivered to the young couple it was painted Valentine green; upon Princess Elizabeth’s accession to the British throne in 1952 it became a state vehicle and was repainted in the official royal car colours of claret and black. In 1952, The Queen was driven in this car to her first Royal Engagement, coincidently at the Westminster Abbey.

After the wedding ceremony and weather permitting, the newly weds will then ride in the carriage used by William’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales when they drove from St Paul’s Cathedral to Buckingham Palace after their wedding in 1981. The 1902 State Landau Carriage is adorned with gold leaf and upholstered in crimson satin, it is the vehicle which “everybody wants to see”, according to senior royal carriage restorer, Martin Oates. The carriage is normally driven by six horses, but for next months wedding four horses will drive the carriage. The State Landau is housed with the other state vehicles at the Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace, and was originally built for King Edward VII for use at his coronation. It is reserved for use by the Queen to meet foreign heads of state on official visits to Britain.

If it is raining, the newly married couples will use the royal Glass Coach instead because it has a fixed roof. The Glass Coach was built in 1881 and in the past has been used to carry royal brides, including Sarah Ferguson and of course Diana to their weddings.

Searching for a wedding car can sometimes be a frustrating experience. You might have decided on a ritzy Roller or a beguiling Bentley but trying to find one available on your wedding day can sometimes be irritating.

Help is at hand. iChauffeur have introduced a simple wedding quotes system that will automatically find cars available, not just in London, but all over England. So if you want a stunner for your Surrey wedding or a beautiful car for your wedding in Berkshire, head-over to iChauffeur Weddings, and get a free quotation for your wedding car. The wedding car quote system gives you the opportunity to email your quote too, so that you can show your fiancee how seriously you are taking this wedding planning business.

Newlywed couple, John and Laina Tauranga were enjoying their chauffeur driven journey from their wedding reception. Kissing on the back-seat, they thought they might have been driving a little bit fast, but as they came up for air they realised that they had been pulled over by the police for drag racing!

The Australian couple realised just how fast, when police stopped them and arrested their chauffeur for drag-racing a provisional driver at 130km/h in a 60km/h zone.

An unmarked police car had been travelling behind the wedding car, a Holden Caprice, and allegedly caught it speeding 70km/h over the speed limit. The wedding chauffeur was allegedly drag-racing a provisional driver before being pulled over by the cops.

Penrith police station officer Hamed Baqaie said, “They were driving at high speeds, revving engines, tyres squealing and they travelled quite a distance before police managed to stop them.”

Probably not what the couple ordered when they booked their wedding car…

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Licensed to Thrill

iChauffeur Ltd, one of London’s leading wedding car services have introduced a new Bentley Continental Flying Spur to their wedding car fleet. This chauffeur driven Bentley is for hire with an experienced chauffeur and makes a very elegant, and stylish wedding car.

Finished in silver and with a stunning Portland hide and walnut interior, this car will make any wedding photographer look good. With it’s cavenous rear seat compartment, this Bentley will allow for even the largest of wedding dresses and with more legroom than a Bentley Arnage, there is plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the journey – especially with the complimentary bottle of champagne on hand!

This latest generation of Bentley was inspired by the legendary R-Type Continental, as driven by James Bond 007 in Ian Flemings novels and is definitely licensed to thrill. With a clever W12 engine, the car has plenty of room for a huge boot, making it ideal for the trip to the hotel or airport with all your honeymoon luggage.

The car is driven by an experienced, PCO licensed driver who has had both Bentley and Police led training for your added security and peace of mind.

Visit iChauffeur and find out more about hiring a Bentley Continental Flying Spur for your wedding day.

We will also provide a Wedding News section, which will help you keep up to date with all the latest bridal and wedding news.