Unique Rolls-Royce used by one of the most famous people ever was kept hidden in underground car park for 16 years
- Dubbed ‘KG1’, this is one of the most iconic Royal vehicles
- This Rolls-Royce Phantom V was used during official visits in Wales
- The car hasn’t been used in 22 years
Published on Sep 24, 2024 at 7:29 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Sep 26, 2024 at 3:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This is arguably the most famous 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V in existence, commonly known as KG1.
This is no ordinary Rolls-Royce, as it was the car that was used by Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II on every official visit in Wales.
The vehicle is still alive, still in working condition, but there’s a weird story behind it.
It essentially lives underground, and only comes out once a year.
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The story behind KG1
Custom built for the British Royal Family, this 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V was regularly used by Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II when they visited Wales.
The vehicle was last used in 2002 and was then parked in an underground garage for 16 years.
For 16 years, between 2002 and 2018, KG1 was only used once a year, and that’s just because the council wanted to get the MOT – the UK’s annual test of vehicle safety – to keep it road legal.
It apparently ‘only’ cost around £200 ($268) per year.
What happened to the vehicle?
We know that the car hasn’t been used since 2002, but information about KG1 became scarce after 2018.
There’s even a Facebook group for it, but this too hasn’t been updated in six years.
Since Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the Royal Family got rid of some of the vehicles she used.
We know that her Range Rover now belongs to a billionaire, while her Bentley should still be part of the fleet.
As for KG1, this car is definitely one of most iconic Royal vehicles in history, so hopefully it’s still there, still being driven once a year for the MOT.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
