Queen Elizabeth’s grandson James is obsessed with cars.
The 91-year-old monarch has revealed her nine-year-old grandson James, Viscount Severn – who is the son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex – does "nothing else" but attempt to drive the vehicles, despite his young age.
Speaking to a family at an event for the Motability scheme held at Windsor Castle, the Queen said: "My grandson is nine and he does nothing else but try to drive a car."
The royal spoke to the family as part of her celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Motability scheme which provides much needed adaptations to vehicles for disabled drivers.
Since the scheme’s conception, Motability has helped put an estimated 4.5 million vehicles on the roads and pavements, and those who met the monarch at the celebration hailed the scheme as an essential service in helping them get behind the wheel when they would be otherwise unable to do so.
Former Royal Marine Paul Barrett – who lost his right leg and use of most of his right arm when he was caught in the blast from an IED whilst serving in Iraq – said the scheme had helped him become "independent again".
Paul – who attended the ceremony with his wife Nova and their two children Ria, 14, and eight-year-old Isaac – said: "The Motability scheme has made me independent again, it’s maximised my self esteem and my self confidence and it’s provided me a way of becoming a father again.
"I’ve had a lot taken away from me in being an amputee but I’m now – in case of an emergency or in case someone’s needed to go to the shops – my own person."
At the ceremony, five drivers received a ceremonial key fob for their new cars and vans from the Queen, who is the royal patrol of the scheme set up by Lord Sterling and the late Lord Goodman in 1977.
Queen Elizabeth: My grandson is obsessed with cars
