King Charles is fiercely protective of his one-of-a-kind Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante biofuel car, which runs on wine and cheese — and once caused a ‘big hoo-ha’ by giving a chef ‘strict instructions’ on how to drive it
His Majesty the King has long been recognised for his passionate commitment to sustainability and the environment. He has repeatedly voiced his strong conviction that everyone has a part to play in addressing even the most daunting sustainability challenges confronting our planet.
And that includes motoring enthusiasts. One of His Majesty’s other great loves is his unique Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante.
The King’s enduring dedication to environmental matters prompted an extraordinary modification to the vehicle years before green issues entered the mainstream.
The coveted British supercar genuinely does run on “cheese and wine”. He revealed to the BBC in 2021: “I’ve got electric cars now but it’s been so difficult. My old Aston Martin, which I’ve had for 51 years, runs on – can you believe this – surplus English white wine, and whey from the cheese process.”
The bioethanol is manufactured by a Gloucestershire-based firm called Green Fuels, which collaborated with Aston Martin heritage specialist RS Williams Ltd to adapt the King’s DB6 to operate on sustainable waste. Yet the King is fiercely protective of the remarkable motor, which has sparked something of a “hoo-ha” in the past, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold.
Speaking on behalf of Select Car Leasing, Grant revealed that His Majesty would not even permit his sons William and Harry to drive the bespoke vehicle. Discussing royal cars, Grant said: “The King famously has his Aston Martin, which was a 21st birthday present. It’s an Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante in Seychelles Blue.”
“But the interesting thing about it is that he had it modified in 2008 so it runs on wine and cheese. We couldn’t believe it when we found out, we used to joke about it a lot in the staff room.
Prince William used to mock his dad for it a lot, in a loving way of course, but it’s just such a random thing to do.”
“But he’s so conscious of the environment,” Grant added, “and was long before it became mainstream. He was always looking for ways he could protect the environment; it’s something he’s so passionate about.”
However, some have dismissed the King’s environmental dedication as little more than empty words. Greg Archer, UK director of T&E, a European clean transport campaign group, told The Guardian: “Prince Charles’s quaint solution to decarbonise his Aston Martin using a high blend of bioethanol made from cheese and wine wastes should not be mistaken for a serious solution to decarbonise vehicles.”
“On a large scale, biofuels do more harm than good,” Archer added, “driving deforestation and land use change that worsens the climate crisis.” Dr Chris Malins, a consultant on alternative fuels policy and sustainability, further noted that Charles’s Aston Martin represents a “boutique” scenario, and that the modification would be wholly impractical on any broader scale.
Nevertheless, Grant revealed that the King has a fierce attachment to his Aston: “He’s very, very protective of that car. He never let anyone else drive it.
“It was a big issue, as I remember both William and Harry wanting to drive it, but he wouldn’t let them. He let William and Kate borrow it on their wedding day, and that was a big deal.
“I remember on one occasion when one of the chefs had to drive it back from the airport and it was a massive honour, but it caused a big hoo-ha. I remember him giving him strict instructions about how slow to drive it and what to do.
“He used to drive it around Tetbury with the roof down. People’s faces when he went past were just priceless.
“I remember once this woman almost pulled her husband over when she grabbed him because she was so shocked to just see him driving normally. Of course he would always give a little wave.”
