King Charles III’s old Land Rover Defender is up for auction, and it’s a bargain*

An old Land Rover Defender is coming up for auction, which isn’t really news. That this old Landie was once owned by King Charles III makes it so. Welcome then, to perhaps the bargain of the year.

Because this old Land Rover Defender once owned by the-then-Prince-of-Wales-but-now-very-much-King is estimated to sell for between £43k and £50k. Not an astronomical figure considering a) it was built in 2010, b) its 2.4-litre diesel four-pot has covered just 25,595 miles in 15 years, and c) the whole ‘it was driven by King Charles III’ thing.

Indeed, Iconic Auctioneers – who’s handling the sale – reckons it really was driven by His Majesty, because the driver’s seat is showing “minor wear”.

Looks to be in pretty good nick as you’d expect of a royal carriage. The ‘Keswick Green’ and grey interior looks up to… scratch, and IA said it has more recently continued its privileged existence in the care of a “fastidious owner”.

Other than that, it’s a fairly standard new-age, old-Defender, which means all the standard, new-age, old-Defender stuff: that four-pot diesel, six-speed manual, 4WD, ladder-chassis, locking centre diff, and good approach and departure angles for proper off-roading.

This one gets heated front seats and even heated front and rear screens (such luxury!), along with some literature like a ‘Land Rover Motoring Users Guide’ (read: ‘point at hill, press go, ascend’), a recovery card, and a 'period certificate of motor insurance'.

You don’t get the number plate – 72 HRH – but can negotiate with the current owner if you’re desperate for it. Are you?