Formerly the personal car of HRH Princess Margaret,1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II LWB Saloon Chassis no. LRH0039342

Born at Glamis Castle, Angus, the ancestral home of her mother Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) on 21st August 1930, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret Rose was the younger daughter of the then Duke of York, later King George VI. The only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret led a sometimes colourful life that made her a favourite of the British popular press. In 1960 she married the noted photographer and filmmaker, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, later the Earl of Snowdon. For almost the next two decades, Princess Margaret would fulfil two contrasting roles: as HM The Queen's supportive sister, and the wife of one of the Swinging Sixties' most in-demand photographers.

After the couple's divorce in 1978, Princess Margaret divided her time between her home on the Caribbean island of Mustique and her apartments in Kensington Palace. Requiring a new car for public and private engagements, she took delivery this Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II, registered '3 GXM', 16th May 1980. The Silver Wraith II was the long-wheelbase version of the Silver Shadow II. To satisfy the chauffeur driven market, a long-wheelbase Shadow, available with or without division, had been introduced in 1969, being christened 'Silver Wraith II' on the introduction of the Shadow II range. A separate chassis having been abandoned, construction of this long-wheelbase model was entrusted to Rolls-Royce's in-house coachbuilder H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd. In keeping with the 'formal' tradition, the 'Wraith II came with a reduced-size, limousine-style rear window for greater privacy. Although ideally suited to 'official' duties and other formal work, the Silver Wraith appealed equally to owner-drivers and their families, who appreciated the increased roominess, particularly over long journeys.

This particular Silver Wraith II was delivered with several special features in accordance with Princess Margaret's personal instructions. The car was finished in Cardinal Red with a black Everflex roof carrying Standard Pennant and Royal Crest mountings and a police blue light. As one would expect, the interior is unique, featuring a matte rosewood dashboard and door cappings trimmed in black Nuala leather, the latter preferred to polished veneer because it did not reflect press photographers' flashguns. The seats are trimmed in cream fabric, as are those of many Royal cars, while the rear bench seat is raised enabling the Princess to be seen.

This car is said to have been loaned by Princess Margaret to HRH Princess Diana; to President of the United States, Ronald Reagan and his wife on visits to London; and is believed to have also conveyed HM The Queen. Serviced regularly by Rolls-Royce main dealers in London, '3 GXM' undertook its final Royal duty on 15th February 2002 when it carried members of Princess Margaret's family to her private funeral in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Her son, Viscount Linley, inherited the Rolls-Royce which, being surplus to requirements, was sold later that year to P&A Wood. The latter sold the car to a Mr Allwright, an enthusiastic Royalist, who even went so far as to purchase its private registration, '3 GXM', which had been carried by Princess Margaret's cars for many years, receiving assistance from Viscount Linley in its acquisition.

Mr Allwright also compiled an impressive history file, including Christmas cards from Dave Griffin, Princess Margaret's chauffeur; numerous photographs of the car in Royal service; assorted press cuttings; correspondence with Viscount Linley's office; copy invoices; and the original Rolls-Royce build sheets. It is believed that Princess Margaret had not kept previous cars for anything like the 22 years she used '3 GXM'. Interestingly, the extensive history files detail the various unique fittings that were removed from her previous Wraith and incorporated into this one: recessed glove box handle, side repeater indicators within the chrome trim strip, etc.

The current vendor purchased the Rolls-Royce from JD Classics in March 2016, and had them Waxoly all panels prior to taking delivery. Presented in superb condition, '3 GXM' represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a unique car from very long-term Royal Family ownership.