Jaguar and Land Rover celebrated starring role in the Queen's Coronation festival

Star role for Jaguar Land Rover at the Coronation Festival, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the coronation of HM The Queen

Jaguar Land Rover had a starring role at a unique event in London showcasing the best of British innovation, excellence and industry.  The Coronation Festival celebrated the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen, and was held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace between July 11th and 14th.

HM The Queen, HRH The Prince of Wales and six other members of the Royal Family visited the Jaguar Land Rover displays during the preview day.  The Queen arrived in a new Range Rover for the Festival’s star-studded Gala that evening, performed against the backdrop of the west front of Buckingham Palace.

The Coronation Festival was hosted by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, and brought together more than 200 businesses which hold Royal Warrants as suppliers of goods and services to the households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.  Jaguar Land Rover is particularly proud to be the only automotive manufacturer to hold all three Warrants.

“Jaguar and Land Rover were each granted their first Royal Warrants in 1951 shortly before The Queen’s accession. We are honoured and delighted to be celebrating this long and unbroken relationship at the Coronation Festival,” said Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO.  “The association of our vehicles with the Royal Family is appreciated by our customers around the world.  So we recognise that the Royal Warrants are an important contributor to the company’s accelerating global growth.”

Past, Present and Future

As well as marking the long Royal association, Jaguar Land Rover also celebrated 60 years of technology and innovation at the Festival, with a display of vehicles to represent the company’s past, present and future.

A highlight for many visitors was the 1953 Land Rover Royal Review Vehicle.  This is one of 10 specially-converted Land Rovers used for many public appearances during the six-month, 44,000 mile tour of the Commonwealth which The Queen undertook soon after her Coronation.  Also representing the past were another Royal Review Vehicle, a Range Rover from 1974, and a Jaguar Mark VII, which Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother used regularly between 1955 and 1972.

This trio was joined by two additional important and historic vehicles:  the first pre-production Land Rover Series 1 from 1948 (known as HUE, after its number plate), and the oldest surviving open Jaguar E-Type, built in 1961.

Representing the present was another Royal vehicle, one of two Jaguar XJ Semi-State Limousines, which were presented to The Queen last year.  The cars are specially extended versions of the long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ, and finished in Royal claret and black livery.

This was joined by five of the company’s current models:  a red Jaguar F-TYPE convertible – particularly popular with stand visitors - a Jaguar XF Sportbrake, a Range Rover Evoque, an all-new Range Rover and an example of new Range Rover Sport, which has just started to go on sale (in the UK, other markets follow).

And for the future?  That was spectacularly represented by the Jaguar C-X75, a prototype hybrid supercar which combines the fuel efficiency of a low-emissions city car with a potential top speed of 220 mph.  Its advanced technologies will be utilised in research and development, innovative future products and next-generation engineering for the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

Guests from around the world

The Coronation Festival was a complete sell-out, with 60,000 visitors over the four days.  These included nearly 1000 Jaguar Land Rover guests, comprising customers, media and business associates from as far away as China and the USA.

Jaguar, Land Rover to attend Royal Festival at Buckingham Palace

• Jaguar Land Rover to showcase its past, present and future at the Coronation Festival
• Jaguar C-X75 Hybrid Supercar Prototype to take centre stage
• Exclusive collection of Royal heritage vehicles on display

Jaguar Land Rover is set to celebrate automotive innovation with a display of vehicles representing the best of British engineering over the last six decades at the Coronation Festival – July 11th to 14th.

As the only automotive manufacturer to hold Royal Warrants from all three Grantors, Jaguar Land Rover will showcase vehicles which highlight the company’s world-class capability in developing pioneering products and technologies with the Jaguar C-X75 Hybrid Supercar Prototype taking centre stage in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The C-X75 is a state-of-the-art hybrid supercar with the efficiency of a low-emissions city car representing the pinnacle of the company’s engineering and design expertise. The great achievements in the development of C-X75 prototypes - including cutting-edge hybrid technologies, carbon composite materials and advanced design solutions pioneered in association with Williams Advanced Engineering - will be utilised in other areas of research and development, innovative future products and next-generation engineering for the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

This is the latest example of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to delivering technical excellence through product and technological innovation. Jaguar Land Rover has more than 7,000 designers and engineers dedicated to delivering the pioneering automotive innovations which have become synonymous with its vehicles throughout the decades. For Land Rover these innovations include the first SUV with Electronic Traction Control, anti-lock brakes and Stop/Start technologies and industry-first applications of adjustable air suspension, Hill Descent Control and Terrain Response®. For Jaguar these innovations include the development of the modern disc brake first seen on the Jaguar C-TYPE and more recently, the first pyrotechnic deployable bonnet safety feature on the Jaguar XK and the first aluminium monocoque body on the XJ.

Two of the latest additions to both the Jaguar and Land Rover ranges - the F-TYPE and the all-new Range Rover, will also be on display at the Festival and offer further examples of the company’s pioneering use of aluminium technology. The F-TYPE showcases the fourth generation of Jaguar's acclaimed lightweight aluminium architecture whilst the Range Rover is the world's first SUV with a revolutionary lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure and is 39 per cent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model enabling total vehicle weight savings of up to 420kg.

Highlighting Jaguar and Land Rover’s rich lineage will be a specially selected collection of heritage vehicles. This bespoke line up represents Jaguar Land Rover’s 60 years of service to the Royal Family, with each car telling its own unique story. Amongst them are the 1953 Land Rover Royal ceremonial vehicle known as State IV which was part of a fleet which accompanied Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on a six month Commonwealth tour soon after the coronation, and a 1955 Jaguar Mark VIIM saloon used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for her private motoring from 1955 until 1973.

These cars along with a 1949 Land Rover series I Troop review, a 1966 Land Rover series II Military Escort, two Royal review Range Rovers from 1974 and 2002, a 1961 Jaguar E-TYPE Series I and a 2002 Daimler X308 Super V8 Saloon were yesterday transported back along The Queen’s 1953 Coronation route as they took part in a celebratory cavalcade through the iconic streets of London from Horse Guards Parade to Admiralty Arch and Westminster Abbey.

The Coronation Festival which takes place in the gardens of Buckingham Palace from 11th July to 14th July is a celebration of innovation, excellence and industry through trade and craft.Uniquely it will be the first time that more than 200 companies who hold Royal Warrants of Appointment have been brought together in this way to showcase their goods, services and skills.

Queen Elizabeth II Unique Bentley takes pride of place.

• Unique opportunity to view Royal Bentley in Buckingham Palace Gardens
• Craftsmen and designers show world-class skills at ‘open air’ workshop
• Mulsanne flagship takes centre stage in Bentley exhibition

Visitors to the Coronation Festival (11-14 July) will be able to enjoy the rare opportunity to see one of the most recognisable and elegant cars in the world, Her Majesty The Queen’s State Limousine.

This unique Bentley, presented to The Queen in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne, will be the centrepiece of a collection of Bentleys on display in Buckingham Palace Gardens throughout the celebrations.

“Whilst the State Limousine is known to millions of people across the world, the Coronation Festival will offer a superb opportunity for visitors to take their time to walk around the car and get closer than usually possible. Her Majesty and The Royal Household have kindly made the car available for the occasion,” comments Richard Charlesworth, Bentley’s Director of Royal and VIP Relations.

Bentley’s craftsmen, designers and engineers (in partnership with several leading British automotive specialists) started work on ‘Project Diamond’ in 2000 with the clear objective of creating a truly elegant car suitable for every type of Royal occasion.

The State Limousine is designed to ensure as many well-wishers as possible have the opportunity to see The Queen and Bentley created a ‘panoramic glasshouse’ as well as making the vehicle far higher than any other car. Additionally, the rear seat position was determined using a model of the same height as The Queen and the doors are hinged at the rear and open through 90 degrees to enable Her Majesty to almost walk out of the car.

As well as presenting the State Limousine, Bentley’s craftsmen and designers will be offering live displays of some of the skills that provide every car that leaves the Crewe factory with a hand-built, bespoke feel.

The ‘open air workshop’ will show guests the mix of hand-to-eye coordination, skill and attention to detail needed to create Bentley’s luxury car models. For example, the team will be demonstrating how to contrast stitch a steering wheel or apply a crossband design to a wood veneer.

A final highlight from Bentley will be the presence of the company’s flagship model; the Mulsanne. Blending refinement and performance with luxury features and technology, the Mulsanne offers the greatest of grand touring experiences. The car takes nearly 400 hours to create (with 200 hours dedicated to crafting the luxurious interior) and nearly 120 exterior colours are available as standard as well as 24 leather colours. The steering wheel alone requires ten feet of thread and 620 stitches to complete.

Jaguar Land Rover celebrates the 60th anniversary of the coronation of HRH Queen Elizabeth II

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CELEBRATES THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUEEN’S CORONATION AS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE CORONATION FESTIVAL

• Jaguar Land Rover is the official motor partner for the Royal Preview of the Coronation Festival on Thursday 11th July
• The Festival is a four-day celebration of innovation, excellence and industry, held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, 11th to 14th July
• Jaguar Land Rover is the only automotive manufacturer to hold all three Royal Warrants 

As the only automotive manufacturer to hold all three Royal Warrants from Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be the official motor partner for the Royal Preview of the Coronation Festival on Thursday 11th July.

The Coronation Festival, which takes place in the gardens of Buckingham Palace from 11th to 14th July, is a celebration of innovation, excellence and industry through trade and craft. Uniquely, it will be the first time that more than 200 companies who hold Royal Warrants of Appointment are brought together on this scale,to showcase their goods, services and skills.

Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Jaguar and Land Rover were each granted their first Royal Warrants in 1951, a year before The Queen ascended the Throne. We are honoured and delighted to be celebrating this long and unbroken relationship by supporting the Coronation Festival. The association of our vehicles with the Royal Family is appreciated by our customers around the world, from the United States to China.  So we recognise the Royal Warrants as an important contributor to the company’s accelerating global growth.”

Jaguar Land Rover is the largest manufacturer of premium vehicles in the UK.  Both of its great British marques have been at the forefront of the UK automotive industry’s drive to deliver technical innovation in all areas of vehicle development. Over the last six decades Jaguar and Land Rover expertise has led to the delivery of a number of world first innovations, most recent examples range from Adaptive Cruise Control and dual view screens to the pyrotechnic deployable bonnet and the first aluminium monocoque body.  With a prestigious Queen's Award for Innovation for the patented Terrain Response System and a further Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Jaguar Land Rover has affirmed its position as an automotive visionary.