Royal Dutch State Limousine
Encyclopedia
The Rolls Royce Silver Wraith
Limousine State Landaulette was the former official state car
of the head of state Queen Juliana of the Netherlands until 1979.
on 13 March 1958. It is the only left-hand drive Rolls-Royce with a Landaulette coachwork in existence, the word "Landaulette" means that the rear part of the roof can be folded down. Its chassis number is LGLW 24, LGLW 24 stands for: L: Left hand drive, LW: Long wheelbase (3,38m instead of 3,23m) and 24 is a sequential number that means it is the 24th car of the series GLW. The coachwork is by Park Ward
. As a curiosity the Ceremonial State Car of Denmark, the Store Krone
, was the next motorcar to be made by the British firm.
The car has unique features ordered by the Queen such as a customized radio made by Philips
, both a crown and the initial J painted on the outside of the back doors as well as crowns in relief in the inner side of the back doors, at the right armrest there are three grooves to keep a notebook, a make-up mirror and a cigarette case, etc.
The automobile has been used mainly for state visits, being used for the first time for the state visit to the Netherlands by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on 20 March 1958. Other royal visitors who used the car include Baudouin of Belgium, the Shah of Persia
and his wife Farah Dibah, the king of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej
and his wife Sirikit
, the kings of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, other heads of state, ambassadors, etc. Princess Beatrix
and Prince Claus also used the Rolls-Royce on their tour of Dutch provinces and towns following their engagement in the autumn of 1965. At the end on the 1970s it was decided that the Rolls-Royce would no longer be used for official functions, first it was kept in the garage of the Soestdijk Palace
later went to the Royal Mews in The Hague
.
Despite its historical relevance the car was sold in 1979 to the specialist automotive company Autobedrijf Meijers in Utrecht, a private firm.
and Maxima Zorreguieta in 2002.
Due to its history, rarity and uniqueness, some voices claim this Rolls Royce should be returned to the head of state again to be used as a ceremonial car for major occasions, same as other European countries do.
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959....
Limousine State Landaulette was the former official state car
Official state car
An official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit, the official state car might be transported...
of the head of state Queen Juliana of the Netherlands until 1979.
Origins
The seven-seater motorcar was commissioned by Queen Juliana in September 1957 and arrived to the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on 13 March 1958. It is the only left-hand drive Rolls-Royce with a Landaulette coachwork in existence, the word "Landaulette" means that the rear part of the roof can be folded down. Its chassis number is LGLW 24, LGLW 24 stands for: L: Left hand drive, LW: Long wheelbase (3,38m instead of 3,23m) and 24 is a sequential number that means it is the 24th car of the series GLW. The coachwork is by Park Ward
Park Ward
Park Ward was a British coachbuilder founded by William M. Park and Charles W. Ward in 1919. They had worked together at F.W. Berwick Ltd., the makers of Sizaire-Berwick cars.Their business operated from Willesden, North London.-History:...
. As a curiosity the Ceremonial State Car of Denmark, the Store Krone
Royal Danish Ceremonial Car "Store Krone"
The Royal Danish Ceremonial Car is the official state car of the head of state Queen Margaret II of Denmark.-Origins:King Frederik IX of Denmark commissioned the vehicle called "Store Krone" in 1958....
, was the next motorcar to be made by the British firm.
The car has unique features ordered by the Queen such as a customized radio made by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, both a crown and the initial J painted on the outside of the back doors as well as crowns in relief in the inner side of the back doors, at the right armrest there are three grooves to keep a notebook, a make-up mirror and a cigarette case, etc.
The automobile has been used mainly for state visits, being used for the first time for the state visit to the Netherlands by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on 20 March 1958. Other royal visitors who used the car include Baudouin of Belgium, the Shah of Persia
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
and his wife Farah Dibah, the king of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
and his wife Sirikit
Sirikit
Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat , is the queen consort of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand. She is the second Queen Regent of Thailand...
, the kings of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, other heads of state, ambassadors, etc. Princess Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
and Prince Claus also used the Rolls-Royce on their tour of Dutch provinces and towns following their engagement in the autumn of 1965. At the end on the 1970s it was decided that the Rolls-Royce would no longer be used for official functions, first it was kept in the garage of the Soestdijk Palace
Soestdijk Palace
Soestdijk Palace is a former palace of the Dutch royal family. It consists of a central block and two wings.Although named after the village of Soestdijk, which is largely in the municipality of Soest, the Soestdijk Palace is just north of the border in the municipality of Baarn in the province of...
later went to the Royal Mews in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Despite its historical relevance the car was sold in 1979 to the specialist automotive company Autobedrijf Meijers in Utrecht, a private firm.
Modern usage
The limousine does not belong to the head of state anymore, but to a rent a car company and it is leased on certain occasions to the royal family members. Like for example during the civil wedding of Prince Willem AlexanderWillem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
and Maxima Zorreguieta in 2002.
Due to its history, rarity and uniqueness, some voices claim this Rolls Royce should be returned to the head of state again to be used as a ceremonial car for major occasions, same as other European countries do.