By Appointment to His Majesty The King

The Royal Warrant is an institution with a history that stretches back centuries and a commitment that reaches into the future. Aston Martin is honored to receive this Warrant from King Charles III. It’s a continuation of a story that dates back to 1982, when the company was first granted a Royal Warrant as a Motor Car Manufacturer and Repairer to the Prince of Wales. 

 

Then as now, a Royal Warrant was a finite accolade, awarded for a period of five years. For a warrant to be issued or renewed, a brand must demonstrate a continued commitment to excellence. An ongoing dedication to standards not easily attained. It cannot be bought. It cannot be sponsored. It’s a recognition of the products that the Royal Household itself chooses. Founded in 1484, the College of Arms is responsible for creating and maintaining official registers of coats of arms. Their release of the Royal Crest created for King Charles III means we can now formally apply the prestigious Royal Arms.

The relationship between Aston Martin and the Royal Family started in earnest over 70 years ago, when Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, purchased a Lagonda Drophead Coupé in 1954. Used extensively by the Duke, the car was even winched aboard the royal yacht Britannia to accompany him on his Commonwealth Tour in 1956 and 1957.

 

Ahead of the car’s competitive debut in Qatar on February 28, the striking liveries for the Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaigns have been revealed, along with the driver lineups.

In 1964, Queen Elizabeth II visited Aston Martin’s then headquarters at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, to celebrate the global success of DB5. A car that became an instant symbol of style, speed, and the very best of British after starring in the James Bond film released the same year, Goldfinger.

 

To mark that royal visit, Aston Martin engineers built a drivable miniature replica of the DB5, complete with dummy machine guns, raisable bulletproof shield, electric water jets, smokescreen device, and two-way radio. Capable of a top speed of 10 mph, the miniature car, complete with rotating license plate registration JB 007, was a much-loved toy for the late Queen’s children. It’s now displayed at the museum at Sandringham.

In 1969, the Queen and Prince Philip’s association with Aston Martin continued when they bought the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) an Aston Martin DB6 Volante Series II in Seychelles Blue. Perhaps the most iconic of all the Aston Martins that the King has owned over the years, the same car was used at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales in 2011.

 

As the King said, “It is one of the great cars. I adore the design and the lines. They are special. I remember Lord Snowdon had a marvelous DB5 in a beautiful gunmetal color. It was always the car to have.” As part of the King’s commitment to sustainability, his DB6 has since been converted to run on E85 bioethanol, minimizing its carbon emissions.

 

This intriguing combination of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation reflects our own approach to car building, which draws on a legacy of passion, skill, and creativity stretching back 112 years.

 

The quilting and perforating technology that won the innovation category in the prestigious King’s Awards for Enterprise in 2024 is a perfect example. Digital control has opened up a world of bespoke tailoring that would not be possible with traditional methods. This allows our Q by Aston Martin division to craft personalized patterns that also enhance the cooling function of the seats. Blending exclusivity and design with invention. 

 

The Royal Warrant is an honor that we’re proud to bear in the form of the Royal Coat of Arms. By appointment to His Majesty The King.