I Drive The Queen's L322 Range Rover - But What's Special About It?

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The L322 are very much the Range Rover du jour with Metcalfe and Clarkson constantly plugging them. The late Queen’s versions also nearly always had dual rear window controls on each rear door so she could open both rear windows for the dogs. Plus the seat belt ‘bong’ coded out to drive round Balmoral and Sandringham belt-free.

They have got big buttons for a reason it’s not “my first car” they were designed to be driven whilst wearing driving gloves it’s actually quite innovative actually

I actually had that very car for four months in 2012. I had a sponsorship with LR and I had this car straight after it came back from the Queen. The only previous destination in the SatNav was Balmoral!

L322 is class. Such a lovely car to drive.

I can only imagine the strict maintenance this Range probably has had since it leaving the factory, I bet its probably the best running L322 out there right now lol.

The armoured ones have to be destroyed, not sold, as some people might be interested in deconstructing the protection measures…

Fun fact: Her Maj was a trained mechanic. She got her hands dirty during WWII with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

I owned an ex-Royal Household 4.4 tdv8 for about 3 years. Great truck. My lasting memory was the response I received whenever I took it in for a service - no one could believe the condition. Sorely missed.

Got my 2011 4.4 tdv8 back in april, ive covered 11k miles in it since (now on 123k miles) - apart from an annoying dpf issue its been completely trouble free. Easily the best car ive ever had and always a joy to drive, even on our potholed country roads. Its also a distinct improvement in every area (apart from looks) on the 3.6 tdv8 i had a couple of years ago. Feels like a much better quality product, more refined and the adaptive dampers and gearbox really do make a difference. Averages 30-35mpg. These are gems

‘What’s so special about it?’ It breaks down gracefully

Unfortunately, this one wouldn't have been driven by the queen, but it's likely she may have been a passenger. It was quite well remarked at the time her dislike for Range Rover's without a proper gear lever - and she held onto her 3.6 TDV8 as a result.

Love these and loved the video! All The switch gear in L322 was designed to be used whilst wearing gloves - hence its chunkiness. Her Maj was regularly pictured driving her Tonga green 3.6 TDV8. There’s an amazing vid of her being interviewed in the late 80s/early 90s driving and double declutching a Land Rover 110 V8 whilst being interviewed

Had my 2005 l322 supercharged for 10 years and still enjoy driving it. Been pretty reliable. Other than servicing only had to replace suspension compressor and light check module. Was going to replace it a couple of years ago when rust started appearing round the rear arches. Bit the bullet and treated the car to a £3000 professional bodyshop repair. Still looks like new and saved £30,000 replacing it with a l405. Spent the £30,000 on a DB9 volante.

I also have a dark green (beige interior) car first owned by royalty - His Highness The Aga Khan. The car is a RHD 2002 Audi A8L finished in Aga Khan Green. As well as having many exclusive touches, what sets the car apart from other D2 long-wheelbases is the fact that it's got a factory-fitted S8 engine installed. Possibly the only S8 engine installed into a LWB D2 by Audi themselves. The car cost over £90k in 2002 and the engine swap at birth cost over £12k alone.

I own five of these, one of them just like the Queen's. When you can keep their electronics sorted out, I am repeatedly surprised at how well they can negotiate thin rural trails across uneven pastures, and then return you back home at the proverbial 'ton' on the highway:) With all their faults, when operating as intended, they turn out to be surprisingly comfortable and capable bits of kit. However, like the Queen did, I much regret the lend of the manual versions. (You know she drove, I believe, stick shift heavy ambulances during the War, what a magnificent monarch she was:)

It’s quite likely she drove it! From what I’ve heard she preferred to drive the L322s herself, newer models she’d be chauffeured in.

Still the best Range Rover in my opinion, it just looks perfect, incredibly practical and comfortable along with fantastic off road ability.

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that car and it’s L404 successor doing the regular run between Taplow Railway Station and Windsor Castle. Not widely known, Taplow was the stop used by the queen when she travelled by the royal train. Being presumably unable to get onto the Windsor and Eton line (or couldn’t be bothered), the Queen often alighted at Taplow then got the Range Rover to take her back to Windsor; no police escort, just the queen sat behind the driver and the car doing the short distance on its own.

Prince Andrew paid £12m for his escort!