# Queen Elizabeth's drivers license **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722 "2006-11-25T04:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ctaylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ctaylor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/1 "2006-11-25T04:58:01Z")
I know this has been asked before, but I can’t find the ‘search’ function. Can someone point me to a thread? Also, what does HM… err, HRH the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales and all those other guys whatever their names are say? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/2 "2006-11-25T05:11:27Z")
I am not sure what you are asking for, however the search function is available on the SDMB tool bar that starts with \*\*User CP \*\* and ends with **Log Out**. It has the following on it: \*\*User CP Rules Subscribe FAQ Members List Calendar New Posts Search Quick Links Log Out \*\* Look for the eighth item. It might be off your screen to the right. You can also do a find on the word Search. Good Luck, Jim ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/3 "2006-11-25T05:24:59Z")
Since I wish this question answered for those who cannot, for whatever reason, use the search function, her surname is “Windsor,” though, since she doesn’t drive off her property (though she does some of the wrenching on her nasty, old Land Rover–I love that girl!) she probably doesn’t have a drivers license, though I wouldn’t want to be the cop who asks to see it. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_136.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_136.html) ---
**Author:** ![ctaylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ctaylor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/4 "2006-11-25T05:27:44Z")
Thanks for posting a pointer to the search function for the board. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/5 "2006-11-25T05:34:11Z")
[QUOTE=ctaylor] Thanks for posting a pointer to the search function for the board. [/QUOTE] You are welcome, I hope it helped. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/6 "2006-11-25T10:50:40Z")
I think you’ll find that if she did have one, HM the Q would have a driving LICENCE. In English English, we distinguish the noun (licence, practice) from the verb (license, practise). ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/7 "2006-11-25T10:54:43Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] I wouldn’t want to be the cop who asks to see it. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard a tale that the King of Thailand was confronted by some young clerk who didn’t believe who he was, and demanded ID. The King didn’t have any ID, so he produced a coin, and showed him the “heads (obverse)” side with a “Will THAT do?” I hope it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/8 "2006-11-25T12:32:32Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] Since I wish this question answered for those who cannot, for whatever reason, use the search function, her surname is “Windsor,” though, since she doesn’t drive off her property (though she does some of the wrenching on her nasty, old Land Rover–I love that girl!) she probably doesn’t have a drivers license, though I wouldn’t want to be the cop who asks to see it. [/QUOTE] Neither does she have a passport, the reason given being that all UK passports are issued in her name, so it wouldn’t make sense for her to issue her own passport. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/9 "2006-11-25T14:16:05Z")
I’m trying to recall the previous threads but I don’t think Windsor is correct. That is the family name, not their last name. They don’t have a last name. When Andrew was in the Navy he was not LT Windsor, he was LT Andrew something something the Duke of York. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/10 "2006-11-25T14:17:35Z")
At one time, in the UK, you did not need to pass a test to get a driving licence. I am pretty sure that my father did not pass a test (b. 1928) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/11 "2006-11-25T14:19:25Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I’m trying to recall the previous threads but I don’t think Windsor is correct. That is the family name, not their last name. They don’t have a last name. When Andrew was in the Navy he was not LT Windsor, he was LT Andrew something something the Duke of York. [/QUOTE] :smack: Or I could have read the link. Didn’t see it. Good to know my memory isn’t that faulty. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/12 "2006-11-25T15:38:14Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I’m trying to recall the previous threads but I don’t think Windsor is correct. That is the family name, not their last name. They don’t have a last name. When Andrew was in the Navy he was not LT Windsor, he was LT Andrew something something the Duke of York. [/QUOTE] The trouble is, for most people the family name and the last name are the same thing. How do you define this “last name” that the Royals don’t have? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/13 "2006-11-25T15:57:35Z")
The immediate Royal family are surnamed Windsor: it was changed in WW1. Others are surnamed Mountbatten-Windsor [Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Windsor). As for needing a license, you don’t need a license to drive on your own land, and the roads are ‘The Queen’s Highway’ so technically she doesn’t need one. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/14 "2006-11-25T16:44:24Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] The immediate Royal family are surnamed Windsor: it was changed in WW1. Others are surnamed Mountbatten-Windsor [Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Windsor). As for needing a license, you don’t need a license to drive on your own land, and the roads are ‘The Queen’s Highway’ so technically she doesn’t need one. [/QUOTE] You didn’t read Cecil’s column, did you? :smack: They immediate members of the royal family (queen, princes, princesses) do NOT have a last name, or surname. They have a family name, that is, their family is collectively known as Windsor. When male members of the family end up in need of a surname, they take the name Mountbatten-Windsor. But the Queen does not have, need, or use a last name. As to your other statement, the more accurate way of putting it is, “who would license her?” ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/15 "2006-11-25T17:34:47Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] The immediate Royal family are surnamed Windsor: it was changed in WW1. Others are surnamed Mountbatten-Windsor [Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Windsor). As for needing a license, you don’t need a license to drive on your own land, and the roads are ‘The Queen’s Highway’ so technically she doesn’t need one. [/QUOTE] This is open to dispute my friend. For example, supposing HRH wanted to take a short cut across farmer Giles field. That field is not her property, she would need a licence to drive across it to reach wherever she wanted to go.\* \*I think ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/16 "2006-11-25T19:16:00Z")
The Queen _does_ have a driving licence according to [this source](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060727033053AATsCcI). > [@](#): > > The Queen finally got her driving licence back on Friday, almost 60 years after she last saw it. > > The World War II document, signed just ‘Elizabeth’ is one of the exhibits at the Adjutant General’s Corps Museum in Peninsula Barracks, Winchester. > > It was given to the then 18-year-old Princess in 1945 when she was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. > > It was kept by the Queen’s driving instructor after the war, before making it into the hands of a private collector, who recently sold it to the museum. She just doesn’t carry it with her. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/17 "2006-11-25T19:20:33Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] The Queen _does_ have a driving licence according to [this source](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060727033053AATsCcI). She just doesn’t carry it with her. [/QUOTE] The QUEEN didn’t have a driver’s license. The PRINCESS Elizabeth did. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/18 "2006-11-25T19:29:28Z")
Princess Elizabeth as was is the Queen that is. They are one and the same person. That person has a driving licence. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/19 "2006-11-25T19:31:39Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/20 "2006-11-25T19:34:59Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] The Queen _does_ have a driving licence according to [this source](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060727033053AATsCcI). She just doesn’t carry it with her. [/QUOTE] However, it doesn’t answer the question of ‘does the British monarch need a licence to drive on public roads?’ The Wikipedia article on driving licences says no - but the cite is a dead link to the DVLA, disappointingly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722.md?page=2)