# 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:** 2
**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, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/21 "2006-11-25T19:38:56Z")
No, it doesn’t answer that question. However, I can’t seem to find that question in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/22 "2006-11-25T19:48:03Z")
[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] Surely it has expired by now though? 🙂 ---
**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, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/23 "2006-11-25T19:56:50Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] No, it doesn’t answer that question. However, I can’t seem to find that question in this thread. [/QUOTE] Good point. I must have the attention span of a gerbil. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/24 "2006-11-25T20:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] The QUEEN didn’t have a driver’s license. The PRINCESS Elizabeth did. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Are you serious? My mother, Ms Smith, had a driving licence. Now she’s Mrs Jjimm’s-Mum she still has a driving licence. Re. the no-test licences, during the war a lot of people were given a few hours’ training in a parking lot and then made into government drivers. Both my grandmothers were trained thus. One used to drive a Pickford’s removals truck, converted into a mobile ambulance, with blackout headlights (slanted grilles over the headlights so that they weren’t visible by enemy planes), through the streets of London in the blackout at high speeds - amazingly she never hit anything. Anyway, after the war finished, those drivers were given a 10-20 year amnesty, during which time they would be granted a licence without a test, provided they did the paperwork. One grandmother did this and was driving up until a few years ago. The other one never got round to it and had to take her test, which she fucked up royally, but because of her war record she was given her licence anyway. ---
**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, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/25 "2006-11-25T20:10:00Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Surely it has expired by now though? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Aha! The Queen’s licence will have expired on her 70th birthday. She is now 80 years old. For her licence to remain valid she would have to have completed a D46P application form enclosing the original documentation confirming identity and a passsport style colour photograph (under current rules). I accept that it’s unlikely she completed this form and therefore it is likely she doesn’t possess a current licence. However, she did have a valid licence between 1952 (her year of accession) and 1996 (the date of expiry). ---
**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, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/26 "2006-11-25T20:50:45Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] 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.\* [/QUOTE] I’m not sure you’re correct - IIRC you don’t need a driving licence if you’re not driving on roads. Just look at the number of country youngsters who learn to drive tractors and old Land Rovers before they’re 17. And technically, the whole of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland may be different) is her property anyway (as established by the Norman Conquest), though many, including myself, would dispute that, saying that issue was settled in the Civil War. ---
**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, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/27 "2006-11-25T21:06:34Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] And technically, the whole of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland may be different) is her property anyway (as established by the Norman Conquest), though many, including myself, would dispute that, saying that issue was settled in the Civil War. [/QUOTE] Are you saying that if I buy land in England, it doesn’t really belong to me but to the Queen? I think you’ll have to back that up with a cite. As I understood it, King William I came into ownership of the whole country in 1066, but he and his successors gave vast estates away to the barons as rewards for service and to keep them on his side. Having given the land away, it’s no longer royal property. Being king of a country doesn’t mean you have to own every last acre of it. ---
**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, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/28 "2006-11-25T21:09:40Z")
Many of you are missing the point. HRH Elizabeth, Princess Royal, would have needed a license. As a princess, she was not the “state.” Thus, her father could license her to drive. As Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, she does not need a license, because she IS the state. As I pointed out, WHO would be licensing her, herself?? Thus, any license issued to her as a Princess became a worthless (well, not actually without monetary worth, but you get the point) the minute she became Queen. Guys, THINK these things through before you get all excited about your ideas… (I DID ask the pertinent question before, and everyone has steadfastly ignored it in the interim. :dubious: ) ---
**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, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/29 "2006-11-25T21:28:43Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] As Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, she does not need a license, because she IS the state. As I pointed out, WHO would be licensing her, herself??.. Guys, THINK these things through before you get all excited about your ideas… (I DID ask the pertinent question before, and everyone has steadfastly ignored it in the interim. :dubious: ) [/QUOTE] She is not the state, she is the head of state. Licences are issued by the DVLA (originally, they were issued locally, by county councils). The DVLA’s role is set out by parliament. ---
**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, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/30 "2006-11-25T21:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] Many of you are missing the point. [/quote] I’m unclear as to what the point is. The OP is not specific in content but the title is ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Drivers License’. The person who is now Queen Elizabeth was issued with a licence in 1945. It remained valid until 1996. So, Queen Elizabeth had a valid licence between 1952 (when she became Queen) until 1996 (when her licence expired). > [@](#): > > HRH Elizabeth, Princess Royal, would have needed a license. As a princess, she was not the “state.” Thus, her father could license her to drive. I think the licensing body would have been a local authority. > [@](#): > > As Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, she does not need a license, because she IS the state. As I pointed out, WHO would be licensing her, herself?? I can’t find anything in this thread which asks whether the Queen needs a licence. Again, she had a valid licence until 1996. > [@](#): > > Thus, any license issued to her as a Princess became a worthless (well, not actually without monetary worth, but you get the point) the minute she became Queen. Worthless or not, her licence was still valid until 1996. > [@](#): > > Guys, THINK these things through before you get all excited about your ideas… (I DID ask the pertinent question before, and everyone has steadfastly ignored it in the interim. :dubious: ) Your question was who would be licensing her, was it not? The answer is the relevant local body who licensed her in 1945 for a period of 51 years. On preview, I agree with GorillaMan that _if_ she had renewed her licence in 1996 the application would have gone to the DVLA. I’m seriously thinking of using my contacts to get in touch with Buckingham Palace about this. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/31 "2006-11-25T21:47:20Z")
Could one of you in England just give her a ring and ask? ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/32 "2006-11-25T21:51:05Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Could one of you in England just give her a ring and ask? [/QUOTE] It’s not that big a place right? Probably one of you is going to bump into her anyway. Maybe doing a bit of Christmas shopping. Got to do it early to get those bargains. ---
**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, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/33 "2006-11-25T21:55:57Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] It’s not that big a place right? Probably one of you is going to bump into her anyway. Maybe doing a bit of Christmas shopping. Got to do it early to get those bargains. [/QUOTE] I’m going round for lunch tomorrow. I’ll ask her then. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/34 "2006-11-25T21:57:13Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Could one of you in England just give her a ring and ask? Ring her in the middle of _Strictly Come Dancing_[sup][/sup] \* ? Do you want me sent to the Tower? \*\* Dancing with the Stars\* ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/35 "2006-11-25T22:09:34Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] Ring her in the middle of _Strictly Come Dancing_[sup][/sup] \* ? Do you want me sent to the Tower? [/QUOTE] But there have been no executions in the Tower since 1945! I was going to email, but according to Her Majesty’s website, neither she nor her Public Information Office will respond to emails. ☹ ---
**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, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/36 "2006-11-25T22:38:01Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] Ring her in the middle of _Strictly Come Dancing_[sup][/sup] \* ? Do you want me sent to the Tower? [/QUOTE] Well, you can’t call her now either. She’s probably watching _Law & Order_ to check whether she needs a driving licence or not. ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/37 "2006-11-25T22:42:10Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] Well, you can’t call her now either. She’s probably watching _Law & Order_ to check whether she needs a driving licence or not. [/QUOTE] Don’t be silly. She’ll be well into her third gin, in front of Match of the Day. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/38 "2006-11-25T22:44:55Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Could one of you in England just give her a ring and ask? [/QUOTE] Now see, you’re _just_ a little too late … my daughter met and spoke to her just last Friday (true! :)). ---
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/39 "2006-11-25T22:48:04Z")
[QUOTE=Shrinking Violet] Now see, you’re _just_ a little too late … my daughter met and spoke to her just last Friday (true! :)). [/QUOTE] Did she ask to see the old bag’s driver’s licence? ---
**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, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722/40 "2006-11-25T22:54:53Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Did she ask to see the old bag’s driver’s licence? [/QUOTE] Maybe **Shrinking Violet** ’s daughter is a police officer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeths-drivers-license/381722.md?page=3)