King Charles shows off brand new £170k BMW as he overhauls fleet of royal cars
The King has been spotted in a brand new £170,000 electric BMW as he continues to swap his fleet of royal cars for greener alternatives. Charles was seen riding in the back of his new top-of-the-range black BMW i7 M70 xDrive after buying the vehicle earlier this year.
It was his first outing in the new motor, with the monarch opting to use it to be taken to a Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church on t he Sandringham estate at the weekend. The eco-conscious King has long been a champion of nature and green causes and previously spent years as Prince of Wales trying to drive action on environmental issues.
The green BMW is the latest electric car to be added to the King's fleet, which is now said to include a £160,000 Electric Lotus.
It is believed Charles has ordered the Lotus Eletre painted in the traditional Royal Claret livery, which is seen on other royal and state cars, to be used at one of his country estates.
He first purchased an electric car back in 2018, when he splashed out on an EV400 HSE Jaguar I-Pace. He has since revealed that his cherished vintage Aston Martin DB6, a 21st birthday present from the late Queen, has also been converted to run on biofuel.
In a 2021 interview, when asked if he was a "bit of a Clarkson" and a "petrol head", Charles replied: "Yes, but that was before we knew what the problems were.
"But my old Aston Martin, which I've had for 51 years, I've managed to convert. I hardly have a chance to drive it now, but that now runs on waste products, can you believe this, surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese process."
Meanwhile, last year at the annual review of the royal household's finances, Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, revealed the two existing state Bentleys would also be refurbished to run on biofuel, with fully electric state cars a possibility for the future.
It comes as other steps the King has taken to reduce his carbon footprint have included installing solar panels on Clarence House and at Highgrove and Windsor Castle, turning down the heat at the Buckingham Palace swimming pool and using biomass boilers that use wood chippings to heat his Birkhall estate.
The King once explored his passion for environmental causes in his 2010 book called Harmony: A New Way of Looking At Our World, which called for a shift in how we interact with nature.
However, the King previously admitted that he was becoming "a frustrated old man" with his attitude towards the global climate emergency. He said the world must rely on the younger generation if it wants to avert an environmental catastrophe in the next few years.
Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Press and Journal
11 hours ago
- Press and Journal
King Charles marks nuclear industry anniversaries in Caithness visit
The King has marked a series of anniversaries linked to the nuclear industry on a visit to Caithness. Charles was in Scrabster, near John O Groats, to meet with key figures working in the nuclear sector. His Royal Highness has a long-standing affection with the Caithness area and is a regular summer visitor to the nearby Castle of Mey. The visit to Scrabster harbour was hosted by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dounreay nuclear site. Established in 1955, Dounreay was a leading research centre for scientists and engineers. They experimented with plutonium, uranium and other metals to generate electricity using advanced types of nuclear reactor. That research work ended in the 1990s and the site is now Scotland's largest nuclear clean-up, waste management and demolition project. The aim is to leave the land housing the redundant research facilities safe for future generations. The royal event on Monday also marked 50 years since the formation of the Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL) company. It has been involved in the transportation of nuclear materials between Europe and Japan for five decades. A lone piper played as Charles arrived at the pier side on Monday morning to meet crew members of the Pacific Heron, a second-generation purpose-built nuclear transport vessel. He also unveiled a plaque on the Jubilee Pier to commemorate the PNTL's 50th year of operations. The third anniversary being recognised at the event was 20 years since the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). In April 2005, the NDA took over the ownership of the Dounreay nuclear facility from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Jonathan Power-Higgins, the director of nuclear and assurance for the NDA's Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), said it was significant day for the nuclear industry across the UK. 'It is mammoth to have His Royal Highness coming here,' he said. 'And that's a testament to the industry's importance.' After unveiling the plaque on Jubilee Pier, the King attended a reception in the nearby Fish Market Hall. There he met more people involved in the area's nuclear industry and also local community members. At the end of the reception, Charles unveiled another plaque – this one commemorating the 70 years of the Dounreay site. 'Happy 70th birthday everybody,' the King said after the ceremonial unveiling. 'A great pleasure to see you all.' During his visit, Charles also met local sea cadets and Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers from the area. He took the opportunity to present a long service medal to the daughter of William 'Wing' Munro, who volunteered with the RNLI in Scrabster for 55 years. His daughter, Dee Munro, said it was something the family would 'always remember'.
Sky News
14 hours ago
- Sky News
Final batch of rare Queen Elizabeth II coins to enter circulation
The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II's £1 coins is entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million coins depicting the late monarch are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins. The Royal Mint said the last of the Queen's coins, which are dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation and will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait. All UK coins depicting the late Queen will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost. The new coins will begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation in the coming weeks. So far, the 50p and £1 coins are the only denominations with the King's portrait to have entered circulation so far, following the introduction of his effigy on UK coinage in 2023. The King's £1 coins - nearly three million of which were released in August last year - also feature an intricate bee design on the reverse. They are part of the Definitive collection, which was inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Last batch of rare final Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins entering circulation
The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins are entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million Queen coins are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins. The Royal Mint said the last of the Elizabeth II coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation. The historic transition – with the dual release of almost 31 million coins – represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain's longest-reigning monarch to her son and heir on the £1 denomination, the Royal Mint said. The Queen's £1 coins will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait to enter circulation. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: 'This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. 'As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition. 'This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.' The Royal Mint is encouraging the public to check its change over the coming weeks, as the new coins begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation. Ms Morgan added: 'Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.' Since the introduction of the King's effigy on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations with Charles's portrait to have entered circulation so far. The King's £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles. Some 2.975 million £1s with the King's effigy were released in August last year. In total, there are around 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King's coins representing only around 0.004% of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors. All UK coins bearing the Queen's portrait will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
