King George VI – King Charles’s grandfather was the first British royal to have a driver’s license and own a car. In 1928, as the Duke of York, he purchased an 18-horsepower Weymann Sportsman’s Coupé, built by the Scottish company Argyll Motors. This makes him the first royal in the UK to drive a car.

King George VI (1895-1952) was the king of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from December 11, 1936, until his death. Born as Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor, he was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. He ascended to the throne after the abdication of his elder brother, King Edward VIII. King George VI’s reign included significant events such as World War II, during which he and his wife, Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother), became symbols of British resistance against Nazi Germany.

As for the car, the Argyll Motors-built 18-horsepower Weymann Sportsman’s Coupé

This was a luxurious automobile in its time. Argyll Motors was a Scottish car manufacturing company founded in 1899 by Alexander Govan, and it produced vehicles until 1932. The company was known for its innovative engineering and stylish designs. The Weymann Sportsman’s Coupé was named after its body construction method, which was patented by Charles Terres Weymann. This method used a lightweight, flexible, and noise-reducing fabric-covered body framework that provided a comfortable ride. The 18-horsepower engine of the car was quite powerful for its time, and it was likely a status symbol for the then-Duke of York, who later became King George VI.

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