By Katherine Tinsley
5:18pm PDT, Oct 7, 2025
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Princess Diana's butler,
Paul Burrell, revealed just how Prince Philip was able to enjoy drives outside of the palace walls. "They [the royal family] have a people carrier that seats about 12 people, and they tag that onto processions for minor royals and household staff," Burrell told
Coachhop.
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"They will go to the venue in that vehicle, which you often see at state occasions," Paul Burrell continued. "It was there for Kate and William's wedding, and it was there for the Queen's funeral."
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The royal family's van made it obvious that a member of the family was in the car, but Prince Philip had a strategy for going incognito in traffic.
"Prince Philip had a converted London taxi as well," Paul Burrell shared. "It was converted to electric, and very often it was parked by what we called the 'Prince of Wales luggage door' in the quadrangle."
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"He would go out in that with his personal protection office into the crowd, and nobody would recognize him," Paul Burrell explained about Prince Philip, who was an avid driver until he voluntarily surrendered his license in 2019.
"If they did go to a big wedding and there was a coach transfer, they would probably get on, it's the easiest way for them to get to A to B in a large number of people," he continued.
