HRH The Prince of Wales visited Nissan’s Sunderland plant

HRH The Prince of Wales visited Nissan’s Sunderland plant on Tuesday to see production of the 100% electric Nissan LEAF and to learn about the Nissan Skills Foundation, a job-creation programme.

His Royal Highness has a relationship with the plant that dates back almost 30 years.

During a trip to Japan in 1986, the Prince of Wales took part in a traditional Japanese Daruma ceremony to mark the start of production at the newly constructed Sunderland plant and rode in one of Nissan’s ground-breaking electric vehicles at the company’s Zama plant.

During today’s visit, The Prince of Wales was shown how a further 29 years of electric vehicle technology have helped make Nissan’s electric LEAF the best-selling electric car in history. He also met apprentices and employees involved in the project.

The LEAF, which went into production at the plant in 2013, was the world’s first mass produced 100% electric vehicle and with sales of 33,000 vehicles in Europe and over 158,000 vehicles globally.

Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe who hosted The Prince, said:  “We were honoured to receive a visit from The Prince of Wales.

“With a keen, lifelong interest in sustainability, His Royal Highness was interested to see LEAF production as well as hear about Sunderland’s achievements as one of the UK’s most successful car plants.”

Following the tour of the production line, the Prince of Wales visited Nissan’s Global Training Centre, which is part of Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Sustainability, Manufacturing and Innovation. Nissan Vice President Manufacturing Kevin Fitzpatrick introduced him to some of the schools engagement activities which form the Nissan Skills Foundation.

Fitzpatrick said:  “Nissan launched the Skills Foundation last year with the aim of using everything from electric vehicles to Formula One to encourage young people to take up careers in manufacturing and engineering.

“As one of the region’s largest employers it’s important that Nissan take a lead role. I was delighted for the opportunity to show The Prince of Wales just some of the activities that we offer the region’s schools.”

The Prince met with pupils from Gillas Lane Primary School in Sunderland, St Cuthbert's in Newcastle and the Venerable Bede, Sunderland who were taking part in Nissan Skills Foundation activities which include the Industrial Cadets program.

Inspired by His Royal Highness back in 2010, the Industrial Cadets program helps to raise the awareness of the job opportunities that exist in the manufacturing sector.  So far over 100 local secondary school children have already completed the course at Nissan with another 100 due to take part during this academic year.

Real horsepower meets 310PS in preparation for the Audi International match in Windsor Great Park

• 38mph speed limit at Guards Polo Club matches the maximum speed a horse can reach
• HRH Prince of Wales to present prestigious trophy
• Audi England team  will play Equus & Co USA Polo team for the prestigious Westchester Cup on Sunday, July 28
• Audi will sponsor the match for the second year in succession

The speed limit at Guards Polo Club in the stunning Windsor Great Park is a symbolic 38mph – the maximum speed of a horse – so it is probably the only place where the Audi A6 allroad quattro (pictured) with its 310 horsepower would find itself neck-and-neck with the real thing.

This royal venue plays host to the Audi International on Sunday 28 July 2013 at 3pm, and the public event is one of the highlights of the summer season, set to attract large crowds to witness England pit their wits against the USA for the prestigious Westchester Cup. Britain's proudest new grandfather, Prince Charles, will present the historic trophy to the winning team in what is the UK’s first staging of the Cup in 16 years.

Other VIPs due to attend the Audi International include Eddie Redmayne, Naomie Harris, Zoe Saldana, Angela Scanlon, Ophelia Lovibond, Tuppence Middleton and Alexandra Roach. Around 70 ‘very important ponies’, representing a total value of around £2.5 million, will also be present, some of which have been flown in especially from the US.

Prince Charles will hope to avoid the fate of his great grandfather King George V, who handed over the Westchester Cup to the American polo team following its win against England in 1921. The attached photograph from that year shows the cup being taken under police protection to Buckingham Palace where it was delivered to the King to present to the Americans.

The USA's win in 1921 levelled the Westchester Cup series 4-4.  Since then, the Americans have taken a 10-6 overall lead, though England have won the last two encounters in 1997 (when the Cup was last played on English soil) and 2009 (in Palm Beach, USA).

Since 1886 England have squared up to America a total of 16 times to claim the Westchester Cup, which is older than tennis’s Davis Cup by 14 years, and golf’s Ryder cup by 40 years.

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.