A Land Rover that truly was fit for a King: Charles' bespoke Defender to be sold at auction

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A 15-year-old Land Rover Defender supplied new to King Charles is set to go under the hammer next month for a relatively attainable price.

The 2010 Defender 90 Hardtop - the old-style utilitarian 4X4 rather than the most recent luxury SUV tailored more to the roads of London than the dirt tracks of the countryside - was supplied to his Royal Highness and the Duchess of Cornwall by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicles division.

The offroader has fewer than 25,000 miles on the clock and its traditional Keswick Green paint said to be in superb condition.

The driver's seat - finished in Charcoal Grey - is claimed to show 'only minor wear indicating that this was not a chauffeur-driven Defender', with Charles likely to have taken to the wheel himself. 

It was delivered new to the Royal Garage at Highgrove House on 15 November 2010 and is sold with the confirmation letter addressed to Tim Williams, Head Chauffeur to HRH The Prince of Wales and TRH The Duchess of Cornwall, as part of an extensive history file.

Having left the King's fleet, it more recently formed part of a small but dedicated Royal Collection, dutifully cared for by a fastidious owner who has decided to part ways with the imperial 4X4.

Iconic Auctioneers will offer it to the highest bidder at an event hosted in the Midlands on 22 March with the expectation of a winning bid in the region of £43,000 to £50,000. 

This 15-year-old Land Rover Defender supplied new to King Charles in 2010 is set to go under the hammer next month - and for a relatively attainable price...

Paperwork sold with the car show the Land Rover Defender 90 was delivered new to the Royal Garage at Highgrove House on 15 November 2010. Then Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall pictured two days later at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala with Dame Edna Everage and Paloma Faith

By its nature, a Defender rarely has any form of creature comforts but, as one might expect, this Royal example does have luxuries at the request of the King and installed by Land Rover specialist division.

This includes the addition of heated seats and a heated front and rear screens for rapid demisting.

While there are no known images of Charles at the wheel of this specific model, there are many documents confirming that it belonged to him. 

It comes to sale accompanied by a small amount of interesting paperwork, such as a Land Rover Motoring Users Guide, a Land Rover Assistance Membership Card and a period Certificate of Motor Insurance. 

Complete with the original book pack and service book that details the first service completed by M.J. Fews, Land Rover, Wooton-under-Edge, Highgrove’s local Land Rover Specialist

'With a current indicated mileage of just 24,595, this Defender has clearly been cherished throughout its life which reflects in its current condition,' Iconic Auctioneers said.

The offroader has fewer than 25,000 miles on the clock and its traditional Keswick Green paint said to be in superb condition

Iconic Auctioneers will offer it to the highest bidder at an event hosted in the Midlands on 22 March with the expectation of a winning bid in the region of £43,000 to £50,000 

A letter confirms its delivery to the Royal addressed to Tim Williams, Head Chauffeur to HRH The Prince of Wales and TRH The Duchess of Cornwall

The driver's seat - finished in Charcoal Grey - is claimed to show 'only minor wear indicating that this was not a chauffeur-driven Defender'

This condition of the driver's seat suggests Charles likely took to the wheel of the diesel Land Rover Defender himself

Having left the King's fleet, it more recently formed part of a small but dedicated Royal Collection, dutifully cared for by a fastidious owner who has decided to part ways with the imperial 4X4. It will go under the hammer on 22 March

While the images show the diesel-engined Defender displaying a '72 HRH' number plate, this will be removed by the time it heads to the block at the Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2025 hosted at the NEC in Birmingham on 22 March.

The plate will be retained by the present keeper, however, it but could be available by separate negotiation with the vendor, the auction house has told us.

The original registration 'OV60 GKA', which was supplied to the Royal fleet, is likely the be returned to the vehicle in time for the sale.

Production of the previous-generation Defender ceased on 29 January 2016.