Prince Philip will be traveling to his own funeral in a Land Rover, one he helped to design. The prince, husband to Queen Elizabeth II, died last week at the age of 99 years, on April 9. His funeral is to take place on April 17. But why would a prince be going to his final resting place in a Land Rover? Because that’s how Philip wanted things.
Philip had spoken to the press about his proposed arrangements for a no-frills funeral, saying, “Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and drive me to Windsor.”
Not Just Any Land Rover
Of course, the Land Rover in question, is not just any old Land Rover, but the Defender 130 “gun bus,” a conveyance designed for hunting expeditions, and outfitted according to the late prince’s specifications by Foley Specialist Vehicles. This, however, was not the beginning of the royals’ affinity for the Land Rover. The Queen’s father, King George VI was presented with the 100th Land Rover built.
Prince Philip’s bespoke “gun bus” was ordered from Foley Specialist Vehicles, a British car manufacturer in the U.K., in 2016. Based on the earlier Defender 130, designed to carry hunters (known as “guns” in Britain) around country estates. Philip’s Land Rover, according to Foley, includes LED lighting, posh green leather interior, and French Oak trim. A royal enough, and quite appropriate vehicle to serve the prince at his funeral, which has been dubbed “Operation Forth Bridge.”
