Salon Privé 2025 to showcase two historic royal vehicles at Blenheim Palace

HRH The Princess Royal’s Middlebridge Scimitar No. 5 — Salon Privé 2025 to showcase two historic royal vehicles at Blenheim Palace

Salon Privé 2025 is set to host a truly regal double act this summer as two historically significant royal vehicles make rare public appearances. King George VI’s 1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupé and HRH The Princess Royal’s Middlebridge Scimitar No. 5 will both be on display at Blenheim Palace next week for the 20th Anniversary Salon Privé.

Their joint appearance offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience not only exceptional examples of automotive craftsmanship but also personal chapters of Royal Family history spanning over eight decades of British motoring.

King George VI’s Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupé – Supercar Saturday & Club Trophy Day by Lockton, 30th August

Purchased in 1939 for King George VI’s personal use, this elegant Daimler is among the most celebrated royal cars still in existence. Newsreel footage from 1941 famously shows the King at the wheel, accompanied by the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and a young Princess Elizabeth.

The car’s chassis number matches official Royal Mews records, and it retains its original registration, FGJ 865. One of only a handful of DB18s built before Daimler switched to wartime production, the King’s example combines a pre-war DB18/1 chassis with a post-war DB18/2 engine, likely fitted in 1946 as a discreet post-war upgrade.

The vehicle has been featured in Automobile Quarterly (1985) and Daimler Century (1995) by Lord Montague and David Burgess-Wise, cementing its place in automotive history. King George’s Daimler will be displayed as part of the Daimler & Lanchester Owners’ Club Paddock.

HRH The Princess Royal’s Middlebridge Scimitar No. 5 – Supercar Sunday & Lifestyle Club Trophy Day, 31st August

Equally captivating is Middlebridge No. 5, owned by HRH The Princess Royal from new in 1988 until 2023, a remarkable 35-year period of single-ownership. Princess Anne’s passion for the Scimitar began in 1971 when she received her first example, a Reliant SE5, as a combined 20th birthday and Christmas gift.

Middlebridge No. 5 was regularly returned to the Lilac Grove factory for servicing and meticulous inspections. Unique features include a Middlebridge Grille Badge, the 1420 H registration (reflecting her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the 14th/20th King’s Hussars), and a bonnet emblem believed to be a personal gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Scimitar carries both personal and regimental significance.

In 2023, the vehicle passed to a private collector dedicated to preserving its originality, with minimal mechanical updates and subtle paint corrections. It is now displayed on long-term loan at the Great British Car Journey Museum. The Scimitar will appear at Salon Privé as part of the Middlebridge Enthusiasts Scimitar Set.

Commenting on the inclusion of the two royal cars, David Bagley, co-founder of Salon Privé, said: “These cars are far more than historic vehicles; they are living connections to the people who shaped them and cherished them. To present them on the lawns of Blenheim Palace is an honour we are excited to share with our guests.

“King George VI’s Daimler DB18 is a magnificent reminder of a defining chapter in our nation’s history, while HRH The Princess Royal’s Middlebridge Scimitar reflects her genuine love of driving and her remarkable 35-year custodianship.”