A Jaguar I-Pace bought personally by King Charles III will head to auction next month.
The 2018 I-Pace is the first fully electric car owned by the British royal family – and an early example of the battery-powered SUV.
Its famous first owner will likely make the Jaguar a desirable lot when it appears at the Historic Auctioneers sale, taking place at Ascot racecourse on 2 March 2024.
Leading the charge
The former Prince of Wales is well known for his interest in environmental issues, and ordering a Jaguar I-Pace saw him lead the way in electrifying the royal fleet.
The range-topping I-Pace EV400 HSE was purchased in September 2018, and initially ordered with Eiger Grey paintwork. However, the car is said to have been returned to Jaguar, then finished in Loire Blue instead.
As a non-standard colour, it remains the only I-Pace to be painted in this hue. Rather fittingly, the interior is upholstered in Light Oyster Windsor leather.
A Jaguar fast charger was installed at Clarence House to ensure the I-Pace’s battery could be easily topped up.
An EV fit for a king
Driven by the King until December 2021, other members of the royal family such as Queen Camilla were also transported in the unique Jaguar.
After racking up around 3,000 miles, the I-Pace was returned to Jaguar and later sold by a dealership in Oxford. Understandably, the original number plate was replaced, and the royal provenance wasn’t mentioned in the advert.
Karen French, the current owner of the I-Pace, was told of its former keeper after she had purchased the car. French has added 30,000 miles since , but has now decided “that it was time for a change”.
The ‘most significant’ I-Pace
As a car bought and driven personally by His Majesty King Charles, the pre-auction estimate for the I-Pace has been set at between £55,000 and £70,000.
Historics’ head of auctions, Mathew Priddy, talked up the car’s collector status, saying: “We are thrilled to bring this royal icon to auction. It’s an unrepeatable piece of electric motoring history.
“With the Jaguar I-Pace being discontinued ahead of Jaguar’s re-launch in 2025, this will remain surely the most significant example, which will be reflected in its increasing value.”
The Historic Auctioneers sale will be held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 2 March, although bids for the Jaguar can also be placed online.
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