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The Royal Wedding: Kate Middleton Breaks with Tradition by Arriving in a Car

posted by AskPatty - Auto Advice
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 7:45pm CDT

The Royal Wedding date is upon us! On Friday, April 29, the world will watch as Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey a commoner, and departs a Princess as the wife of Prince William. But there's a modern twist in all this pomp and circumstance - when she arrives for her wedding tomorrow morning, Kate will not arrive via the traditional horse-drawn carriage, as Diana did before her - she will start her own modern tradition for royal English weddings by arriving not in a coach, but in a car.

It's not a decision she made lightly, that's for certain. With the eyes of the whole world watching as she walks down the aisle, every decision, however trivial, will be scrutinized and analyzed - from her hair to the flowers, the gown to the groomsmen. You can be absolutely sure the fact that she's arriving by car will be one of the hot topics of discussion in anticipation of her arrival.

But Kate won't be arriving in just any old car...

This is a 1950 Rolls-Royce Royal Phantom IV, and is the car she's most likely to arrive in. It's one of the Queen's personal fleet, and is also the car that was damaged by student protestors with Prince Charles and his wife Camilla inside not long ago. Expected to be fully repaired, this car will give Kate an unforgettable journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey where the world will watch as she ties the knot. Here's some amazing facts about this remarkable car:

The Phantom IV, only manufactured between 1950 and 1956, is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce ever built - only 18 were made, all for royalty and heads of state. Of these 18, 16 survive today.
It is the only Rolls Royce motorcar to be fitted with a straight eight engine, which can run long distances at a very low speed, an important feature for ceremonial cars.
The chassis was developed from that of the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, strengthened and lengthened considerably to a wheelbase of 12' and an overall length of 19' 1". It's a big car.
The first Phantom IV was commissioned by Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1949.
Queen Elizabeth II received hers in 1959 - it was built in 1954 and kept for the British soverign by Rolls-Royce until she purchased the car in '59.

After the wedding, the couple, with the royal family and wedding party following, will ride atop the horse-drawn "Glass Coach," in a return to the carriage tradition, for their return to the palace. Congratulations, Kate and William, and the Ask Patty nation wishes you a long and happy life together!

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com, Inc.

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