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Bizarre Reason Why Queen Elizabeth Rarely Wore a Seatbelt — Even After a Police Complaint

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Queen Elizabeth II was seen driving her Range Rover on July 2, 2021, in Windsor, England. Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby
BY THE ROYAL OBSERVER STAFF
Mar. 10 02025, Updated 08:40 AM. ET
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Queen Elizabeth II, who was notorious for driving around her many royal estates by herself in her Range Rover, well into her final years, was reported for not wearing a seat belt. West Yorkshire Police once received a complaint about Queen Elizabeth not wearing one during the State Opening of Parliament. A concerned citizen called 999 to report that the Queen was not wearing a seat belt during her ride through London. Authorities later confirmed the same in a tweet. Interestingly, this wasn’t the only incident. The reasoning behind this, as former protection officer, Simon Morgan, explained, was rooted in the royal family’s unique security protocols.

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Morgan argued that these decisions were always situation-specific. At times, royals weren’t strapped in for their own protection, to allow swift escape in the case of an emergency, as reported by Hello! magazine. He said, "There are always anomalies. In the threat and risk matrix, it's a matter of looking at each individual situation to decide what is the best way of achieving what needs to be achieved."

Additionally, he noted that sometimes a royal’s public image or personal comfort also played a role in the decision. Morgan explained, "What is significant about this event or situation? Is an individual's look and appearance important? And also an individual's choice. Protection is a very unique area of policing, and there are a lot of gray areas."

There are specific situations where royals are exempt from wearing seatbelts, such as during processions organized by or for the Crown or those that are traditionally held. They are also not required to wear seatbelts if the vehicle doesn’t have them, which is often the case with classic cars or horse-drawn chariots. According to UK law, seatbelts must be worn if they are installed in the seat being used, and those who don’t comply can face a £500 fine. However, no legal action can be taken against the Queen or now King Charles III under UK law.

Under U.K. law, the Sovereign is shielded from civil and criminal proceedings, meaning the Queen could not be prosecuted as an individual. However, she was known for ensuring that her actions remained within the bounds of the law. While it’s unlikely that she could get away with other serious crimes, her legal immunity has never truly been put to the test. The most notable instance of sovereign immunity in action occurred in 1911, when King George V was accused of bigamy. The King's legal untouchability was strengthened at the time when the Lord Chief Justice decided that the monarch could not be forced to testify, as reported by HuffPost.

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