R-Rs parade for Her Majesty

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I heard that another Rolls-Royce parade before Her Majesty the Queen was scheduled for this year, a repeat of that which took place at Windsor in the Silver Jubilee year, 1977. Then, courtesy of Lord Montagu, my wife and I had seats in a vintage 40/50hp Silver Ghost. In addition, a stately 35/120hp Daimler was at the entrance to remind us of how the Royal Family had changed from Coventry-built cars to those built at Crewe.

I heard nothing more about this year’s parade and thought it had perhaps been abandoned after the deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. But the current issue of the R-REC’s Bulletin (which years ago won a prize for the best motor club journal and has never lost that high standard, maintained so very notably under its present editor, Peter Baines) reports that a concourse of some 500 Rolls-Royces and R-R Bentleys drove past HM the Queen and Prince Philip earlier this year. Mr Baines stood next to Her Majesty to explain about each of the passing cars at both parades.

The account in the Bulletin records how Tim Pike got his Rolls-Royce 20 (GBM 71), with which his father had taken part in the Silver Jubilee parade, ready for the 2002 ceremony.

A unique occasion, even if 25 years ago it emphasised the majesty of our Monarch recognising the elegance and status of one of Britain’s great cars, whereas today the company is owned by BMW.