The Duke of Edinburgh has taken on a treasured number plate in a sweet nod to his father. Prince Edward arrived at the royal family’s pre-Christmas lunch on Wednesday behind the wheel of a Range Rover.
The car had Prince Philip’s long-time number plate, OXR1. Queen Elizabeth’s late husband first used the plate on a specially built 1954 Lagonda three-litre drophead coupe, which he had until 1961. The plate then moved to an Alvis TD21, which was later refurbished and put on display at the museum at Sandringham.
Prince Philip later drove a Land Rover Discovery with a new number plate, OXR2. His youngest son Edward, who inherited his Duke of Edinburgh title, drove his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, to Windsor Castle.
The dinner has traditionally taken place at Buckingham Palace but the King has held it instead at Windsor for the past two years.
It was the biggest family gathering since the Coronation in May with a feast of turkey with all the trimmings. At least 50 family members were invited.
Those in attendance included the Wales family, the Princess Royal and her husband, the Duke of York, Princess Eugenie and her husband, and Zara and Mike Tindall.
Not at the event were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they remain in their Montecito mansion in California, USA, with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
