THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CAR BEING OFFERED FOR SALE

THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CAR, COMPLETE WITH A CUSTOMIZED HANDBAG HOLDER AND LAMBSKIN RUGS FOR THE CORGIS, HAS RECENTLY GONE ON SALE. BEARING THE SAME NUMBER PLATE AS WHEN IT WAS USED BY THE QUEEN BETWEEN 2001 AND 2004, THE JAGUAR DAIMLER IS BEING SOLD BY SPECIALIST MEMORABILIA DEALER PETER RATCLIFFE. THE TOP OF THE RANGE DAIMLER, WHICH WAS SPECIALLY BUILT FOR THE MONARCH, ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK AS IT WAS MAINLY USED FOR DRIVING AROUND THE GROUNDS OF THE WINDSOR ESTATE. PAINTED A SHADE OF BRITISH RACING GREEN, THE DAIMLER MAJESTIC V8 HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO SUIT ITS PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR'S EXTRAS INCLUDED A SECURE TELEPHONE LINK TO DOWNING STREET AND THE HOME OFFICE, WHICH WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO SALE. UNIQUE WINDOW SWITCHES WERE ALSO INSTALLED TO STOP THE WIND BLOWING DIRECTLY INTO THE QUEEN'S FACE. OTHER EXTRAS INCLUDE A CONSOLE OF SWITCHES TO CONTROL FLASHING STROBE LAMPS AND BLUE EMERGENCY CONVOY LIGHTS AND PADDED LEATHER INSERTS FOR THE ARM POCKETS IN THE DOORS TO STOP THE CORGIS SLIDING OFF THE CALFSKIN SEATS INTO THEM. RATCLIFFE SAID: 'THE QUEEN HAD THE IDENTICAL CAR FROM 1998 TO 2001. SHE LIKED THE CAR SO MUCH THAT SHE WANTED THE SAME AGAIN, BUT THERE WERE A FEW THINGS SHE WANTED TO CHANGE. WHEN SHE MET WITH JAGUAR SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE SAT IN THE BACK OF THE CAR SHE LIKED A BIT OF AIR, BUT DIDN'T LIKE THE WIND TO BLOW DIRECTLY INTO HER FACE. SO THEY INSTALLED AN EXTRA SWITCH ON EACH OF THE REAR DOORS TO CONTROL THE WINDOWS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. IT WAS INGENIOUS.' 'THE QUEEN ALSO SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A PASSENGER, SHE WAS WORRIED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT HER HANDBAG. JAGUAR TOOK THE NORMAL ARMREST AND ADDED A SLIDING TRAY SO COULD PLACE HER HANDBAG ON TOP AND PUSH BACK THE TRAY TO HOLD IT IN PLACE WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING', RATCLIFFE ADDED. THE DAIMLER MAJESTIC V8 WAS RELEASED FROM JAGUAR'S COLLECTION OF ROYAL VEHICLES AFTER IT WAS DEEMED SURPLUS TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE'S REQUIREMENTS. RATCLIFFE BOUGHT THE CAR, WHICH STILL HAS A 2005 TAX DISC IN IT, LAST YEAR. THE CAR ENTHUSIAST WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE PRICE OF THE CAR, ALTHOUGH THE MOTOR HAD A LIST PRICE OF £65,000.