Prince Philip designed his own hearse modifying Land Rover

LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip, who loved Land Rovers and drove them for much of his life, will make his final journey in a, meaningless vehicle personalized to his direction, all the way to its green color military.

The modified Land Rover TD5 130 will carry Prince Philip’s coffin in a procession to Windsor Castle on Saturday while the Queen and other members of the royal family continue before the funeral and burial in St George’s Chapel.

Buckingham Palace said the prince’s hearse was built at the Land Rover factory in Solihull in 2003, when Philip turned 82 and was modified over the years with a later section open to hold his coffin, with the final changes until 2019, year turned 98 years old. Philip died on April 9 at the age of 99.

Among other things, Philip asked that it be repainted in dark bronze green, a color used in military Land Rovers.

The simple vehicle and its military appearance reflect the man himself, a strong-spoken former naval officer. Before marrying the future Queen Elizabeth in 1947, Philip, then prince of the Greek royal family. he served as an officer in the Royal Navy of Great Britain during World War II and took part in the battles of Cape Matapan and Crete in 1941.

Land Rover has kept the vehicle since it was built and kept it ready for the funeral in collaboration with the royal house.

Thierry Bollore, CEO of Land Rover, said the company had “a deep privilege” to have worked with the prince, who visited the company’s sites over the years and met with hundreds of employees from the company. The company was “honored” that one of its vehicles was used at the funeral.