A rare royal car is heading to auction, and its thoughtful custom details reveal a surprisingly practical side of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II’s specially commissioned Bentley is going under the hammer on October 14, but one of its most personal features won’t be included in the sale: a custom compartment designed for her handbag.
The 2016 Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, used during the late Queen’s official engagements, is being offered as Lot 121 in Broad Arrow Auctions’ Global Icons: Zoute Online sale. Its estimated value of €400,000 to €450,000 works out to roughly $460,000 to $520,000. The bidding opened October 5 and is scheduled to close Wednesday, October 14.
A Bentley designed around the Queen’s handbag
Even a luxurious royal vehicle needed to accommodate the Queen’s everyday essentials. Bentley removed the front center armrests and installed a specially designed tray for her Launer London handbag, a detail confirmed in reporting on the car’s specifications.
That bespoke tray, along with the royal coat-of-arms detailing, was removed when the car left official service. The armrests were restored. Buyers will acquire a car with royal provenance, but not every feature that once made it uniquely hers. Town & Country describes the unusual customization and the vehicle’s history.
Luxury, with some distinctly practical requests
The Mulsanne was finished in Barnato Green, with Twine and Cumbrian Green leather, burr walnut woodwork and deep lambswool carpets. It was engineered for a passenger who would generally sit in the back, with an extended wheelbase providing exceptionally generous rear legroom.
According to The Times, the Queen’s preferences also included noise-reducing foam-lined tires and the removal of electric privacy curtains, reportedly because she wanted people outside to be able to see her. The curtains were subsequently reinstalled.
The vehicle once carried special royal equipment including concealed blue lights, a siren and crests, all removed after it was decommissioned. Its interior still reflects Bentley’s craftsmanship, but the car is not an armored state limousine.
Why this particular Bentley is so rare
Bentley built just two specially prepared Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase cars for Queen Elizabeth. The one now for sale served from 2016 until 2019 and later entered private ownership. The other remains in Bentley’s heritage collection. This makes the auction vehicle the only one of the pair available to private collectors.
The car has approximately 6,000 miles on its odometer, according to the auction listing. Its value reflects not just the engineering and condition, but its documented connection to the late monarch.
What happens next?
The online auction closes October 14. Its estimate is not a final sale price, and there is no guarantee the vehicle will sell within the projected range.
For royal enthusiasts, the appeal is easy to understand. This is a car that carried the Queen through everyday official duties, with details that reflected how she liked to travel. The custom handbag tray may be gone, but its story remains part of the vehicle’s history.
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Sources: Auction listing · The Times · Town & Country
