Thursday, September 21, 2023

A royal smuggler

Rolls-Royce allegedly used to smuggle Wallis Simpson into Balmoral for sale

 

In 1923, the future King Edward VIII commissioned coachbuilders Barker to refinish the chassis of a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to create a shooting brake with a difference. Featuring not only walnut effect finishing to its aluminium panels, the bespoke car also included specially commissioned black pull-down silk blinds and it is rumoured that these were installed so he could smuggle guests – and most particularly Wallis Simpson – in and out of Balmoral without their being seen.

 

A royal smuggler - 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost shooting brake
A royal smuggler – The 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost shooting brake complete with the ex-Edward VIII Barker coachwork is guided at £100,000 to £120,000
A royal smuggler - 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost shooting brake
Her Grace The Duchess of Windsor and His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor in 1940
A royal smuggler - 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost shooting brake
The passenger compartment comes complete with black pull-down silk blinds

 

The Rolls-Royce – chassis no. 1346 – was used by the royal family until 1940 and after its subsequent sale, the car and the shooting brake coachwork were subsequently separated. Another Silver Ghost – chassis no. 107EM – was then fitted with the discarded ex-Edward VIII Barker coachwork in the 1960s and now that car is set to be auctioned by H&H at the RREC Burghley House sale at Stamford in Lincolnshire on 20th June.

 

Of the car, Damian Jones of H&H commented:

 

“When the vehicle was consigned to us, the current owner mentioned in passing that a rumour accompanying the car was that Edward VIII used it to smuggle Wallis Simpson into Balmoral”.

 

“There is no documentary evidence to validate that, but it’s a tale that’s been passed on from owner to owner. One of the more telling features of this shooting brake is that it had pull-down blinds on all the windows”.

 

“When you’re out in the middle of an estate with a shotgun it’s hard to see what the need for privacy would have been… Shooting brakes are normally rather utilitarian vehicles that would not normally be associated with privacy, but with this one Edward felt the need to install blinds”.

 

The car has a guide price of £100,000 to £120,000 ($153,000 to $183,000 or €137,000 to €165,000).

 

 

Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:

     

    The Steeple Times
    The Steeple Times
    We research and background check our articles. If you believe we have made and error in some detail please get in touch, we seek always to write the truth and stand against a press owned by a self selected few. Please help us, we will accept all your likes, subscriptions and anonymous suport. The Editor and his team at the Steeple Times.

    3 COMMENTS

    1. What a stunning vehicle! I was only watching a documentary 2 nights ago on Wallis Simpson, or That Woman as she was known. Completely fascinating story. I personally think its a thing of beauty ERM…. the car that is.

      • Very funny…yes, Wallis Simpson…a truly hideous woman. Still, she was well matched with the Nazi loving husband

    2. This compares favourably with a Cartier tiger and such……………

      ‘Twas ever so……Ancient Silver dealers, that I know, still have items bought at Mentmore -Sotheby Parke Bernett – May 1977…….the rhyme goes ‘ It meant more at Mentmore ‘

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    £1 per week Supports The Steeple Times

    Help journalism to remain honest & independent. You can make a difference to the world today.

    3,573FansLike
    2,068FollowersFollow
    16,694FollowersFollow
    4,962SubscribersSubscribe

    Subscribe For DAILY NEWS

    Please subscribe, like and share this unique site, it helps us tremendously. The Steeple Times in return will send you an email at noon each and everyday, that we sincerely hope you will enjoy & look forward to seeing in your inbox.

    AD
    Advertisement

    Trending Now

    ‘Comeback King’ Kevin Spacey – Actor Seeks To “Leave The Nonsense Behind”

    As Kevin Spacey’s eccentric ‘friend’ Geoffrey Mark claims the “exonerated” actor will now “leave the nonsense behind” and begin his comeback, we remind of his friendships with ‘curious sorts’ including Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein.

    Summer Silly Season Stories 2023 – ‘The Steeple Times’ Is Back

    Matthew Steeples highlights the stories he’s been following during the ‘silly season’ summer of 2023 – amongst them matters Ghislaine Maxwell and Rudy Giuliani and podcasts about ‘true crime’ as a genre.

    Most Popular Articles

    Was Mucky Minx Meghan Markle A ‘Yacht Girl’ For ‘Randy Andy’?

    As author Kirby Sommers suggests that the then Meghan Markle likely spent time with Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein before she met Prince Harry, we again highlight the mucky, murkiness and mendacious manner of this alleged “yacht girl.”

    Most Liked...

    Messing About in Boats

    Thameside cottage where ‘Lewis’ was filmed for sale; it is just the perfect place for ‘messing about in boats’ Two episodes of the Inspector...

    No. 1, The Thames – Kent Gun Tower For Sale For...

    No. 1, The Thames – Kent Gun Tower For Sale For Sum 92% Lower Than In 2020
    Derelict gun tower on the Kent coast for sale for just £150,000 after it failed to sell previously for £1.9 million.

    Nasty NestSeekers

    Nasty NestSeekers – Realtor turned alleged squatter Jonathan Davis – Entitled Hamptons brat Jonathan Davis exposed for allegedly squatting in a house in Sag Harbor owned by Paula Rosado during the coronavirus lockdown; it turns out he’s a realtor with NestSeekers.
    Entitled Hamptons brat Jonathan Davis exposed for allegedly squatting in Sag Harbor during the coronavirus lockdown; it turns out he’s a realtor with NestSeekers.

    Branding Henley’s Wallaby Killer

    Russell Brand Bear dog wallaby killer
    Russell Brand should be condemned not congratulated after his rabid dog killed a wallaby in the scene of weird animalistic happenings, Henley-on-Thames.

    Iqbal Latif: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    20 questions with businessman Iqbal Latif   The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Unlearning the old and relearning the new.   “Don't get even,...