Mark Gregory Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 (edited) Driving home for Christmas! Prince Charles and Camilla chose a snap of themselves motoring along in a classic car in Havana for their 2019 festive card Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have released their official 2019 Christmas card Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, seen driving through Havana in a vintage car They were lent the British 1953 black MG TD during their visit to Cuba in March Last year their more formal card showed Charles and Camilla at Clarence House Edited December 20, 2019 by Mark Gregory (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomEli Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Wow, that means Prince Charles can drive a clutch. Wonder when he last actually drove a car. Royals are different from you and me. I remember a story where Princess Di had all his front trouser pockets sewn shut so he couldn't put his hands in them -- didn't look regal. I'll bet any film footage of the two 70-year-olds trying to get in/out of the car has been confiscated. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Nice TD, but LHD? Must have been repatrioted from the colonies!! 🤔😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 It's interesting to read what the Royals can and can't do. Can't eat certain seafoods, due to possible food poisoning. Public displays of affection are not allowed, even casual touching of arm is discouraged. Once the Queen quits eating, EVERYONE quits eating. Can't be in a plane or boat with whole family in case of an accident. They do NOT lead a normal life, that's for sure. Prince Charles is, I believe, a large man, I don't see how he can even fit in or drive an MG-TD.....not much room, and itty-bitty brake and clutch pedals... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 I understand Prince Andrew's card has him driving a kiddie car. ............Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 (edited) What makes you thing the car isn't parked for the photo? Why CUBA? Bob Edited December 20, 2019 by 1937hd45 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 3 hours ago, Steve_Mack_CT said: Nice TD, but LHD? Must have been repatrioted from the colonies!! 🤔😁 No doubt a US market car, as its only 90 miles away from Cuba!! Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 just bought a 53 TD last month............. after seeing this- Im ready to get rid of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 From the position of each of the couples hands, you can almost convince yourself it has dual controls. Do you remember in the early '50s when we were in elementary school being introduced to young Prince Charles in "My Weekly Reader"? We were led to believe we would see him being crowned king some day. Some of us may, others will not. I would really like to stay healthy enough to see that. Long, LONG live HRH Elizabeth 2nd !! - Carl 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Cole Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 6 hours ago, trimacar said: It's interesting to read what the Royals can and can't do. Can't eat certain seafoods, due to possible food poisoning. Public displays of affection are not allowed, even casual touching of arm is discouraged. Once the Queen quits eating, EVERYONE quits eating. Can't be in a plane or boat with whole family in case of an accident. They do NOT lead a normal life, that's for sure. Prince Charles is, I believe, a large man, I don't see how he can even fit in or drive an MG-TD.....not much room, and itty-bitty brake and clutch pedals... If you are under 6' you can drive a TD. Actually, Charles is average size: 5' 9" tall, weight 165 lbs. His father and brother Andrew are both 6' tall. Many of their pictures are made beside the Queen, who is small. I think that makes us think the royal gentlemen are larger. Queen Elizabeth II may be small, but having seen her in person, she certainly presents a royal presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 (edited) "Prince Charles is, I believe, a large man, I don't see how he can even fit in or drive an MG-TD.....not much room, and itty-bitty brake and clutch pedals... Not so my friend. My step father, a veteran of WWII( Canadian) met him and told me he was quite suprised how short the Prince of Wales is. Wiki states 5Ft 10 in. Likely a bit shorter than stated. The MG-TD is a good fit. Edited December 21, 2019 by Ed Luddy clarity (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Interesting, I didn't know he was that short, as mentioned pictures seem to make him appear tall. I was in the process of buying a TD once, but the pedal placement was awkward to me, and the one I was test driving had so little power that running over a shadow slowed it down....so I passed. Beautiful little cars though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playswithbrass Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Actually, there is a good shot of Charles and Camilla in the car. He seems to be sitting quite comfortably. There is also a shot of him helping her out of the car. The car is owned and was restored by a Cuban resident who was asked to let Charles drive it. It is a British 1953 MG. I think Charles favourite car is his Aston Martin. Just because in official photos people are chauffeur driven, doesn’t mean that the next day they don’t leap in the driver seat of their other car. Erica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Hummm.. it seems that in Cuba they hang a lot of rear view mirrors. In this country we hang a lot of horns and lights on the front end. I guess the Cubans worry more about who's following them, instead of who might get in their way. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 With a TD you are worried about what is behind you. I prefer over 200 hp.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLynskey Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 According to the AP article the Prince commented after driving the MG "It has an incredibly powerful accelerator." Really?? An MG TD?? Incredibly powerful?? Maybe the Queen should loan him the money for an Aston Martin or a Bentley Continental Speed GT. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 I think the Prince must be used to old things that go slow, I'm just saying..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) 19 hours ago, DLynskey said: According to the AP article the Prince commented after driving the MG "It has an incredibly powerful accelerator." Really?? An MG TD?? Incredibly powerful?? Maybe the Queen should loan him the money for an Aston Martin or a Bentley Continental Speed GT. Don Maybe it had Russian Diesel engine in it, as many cars in Cuba have. Edited December 22, 2019 by Paul Dobbin (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) Demonstrating the historical importance of American-English trade via LHD Edited December 22, 2019 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 The vast majority of the MGTDs produced were exported - most of them to the US. Those were left-hand drive cars specifically made for the US market (and a few other countries driving on "our side of the road.") It certainly would not be uncommon to find one in Cuba, and it looks nicely restored. Never been there, but I understand there is a small group of enthusiasts who are actually into restoration, rather than just cobbling things up to keep them going. Had the pleasure to meet Prince Charles years ago when he presented trophies at an antique auto show I helped organized in Scotland. He is not a tall person at all, in fact I was quite surprised at his relatively small stature compared to what I'd expected. I'll not comment on his "escapades" but accept the fact that people who drive MGs tend to be a bit on the wild side anyway. My wife actually somehow becomes an almost different kind of person behind the wheel. She just doesn't seem to understand you can't used them to straighten out twisty country roads and believes those "warning 15MPH" turn signs are merely suggestion. It's always good to see MGs here, regardless of who is driving. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 The Prince of Wales was often seen picking the boys up from school and activities in the Aston. I've read HRH Elizabeth would often give the guards the slip and sneak out in a Vauxhall Estate Wagon, though I'm sure she no longer drives. Face it- HRH was a motor pool mechanic in WW2. She's a gearhead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) I would suspect that it is in the best interests of the Royal family to have the members appear tall whether they are or not. Not deceit, just positive publicity. Edited December 29, 2019 by plymouthcranbrook (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 We didn't get a Christmas card from any of the Royals. Didn't send them one either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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