Friday, April 9, 2021

Prince Phillip, the Car Enthusiast! Rest in Peace!

 MG TC/1362 and Prince Phillip

From MG Car Club North American Articles: The Log Book Summer 2016, Vol 19, No.2. by Richard Miller:
“What you may not realize is that MG also has a history with the last three generations of the House of Windsor.
On April 23rd at the Chippenham Auction Rooms a rare handwritten letter, written in 1947 by the then 21 year old Princess Elizabeth, was sold for US$ 20,880.
It revealed how Prince Phillip’s MG TC played a role in his courtship of the future queen.
The letter was sent to Betty Shew who was writing the official souvenir book called, “The Royal Wedding”.
In her letter Princess Elizabeth recalled how the young couple drove each other around London and were at one point even chased by photographers.
The princess remembered, “Philip enjoys driving and does it fast! He has his own tiny M.G. which he is very proud of-he has taken me about in it, once up to London, which was great fun, only it was like sitting on the road, and the wheels are almost as high as one’s head. On one and only one occasion we were chased by a photographer which was disappointing.”
The sentiments of the royal princess, on the TC, are familiar to many others over the years.
Sadly, there is no contemporary record of what may have happened to this black with green upholstery royal TC (registration plate XHD 99) or if it exists to this day.
Registration number – HXD 99
Purchased on 25th September 1946 – new
Colour – Black exterior w/green interior 





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