Rolls-Royce, First Adopted as a Royal Carriage in 1950

A Journey Through Britain's Royal Culture of Tradition and InnovationThis feature, titled "A Journey Through Britain's Royal Culture of Tradition and Innovation," has introduced the charms of Britain across four installments. The first installment featuredA Railway Journey Aboard the Luxurious British Pullman Train, and the second installment featuredStaying at the Tudor Glen, One of Britain's Premier Country Hotels, and Finding Solace in Beautiful Nature. In this third installment, we enjoy a drive from London to Oxford.

When thinking of Britain's proud automotive marques, which models immediately come to mind? Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mini – the variety is truly remarkable. More recently, the prestigious McLaren, renowned for its success in F1 Grand Prix, has also entered the scene as a supercar brand. Britain, since the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century, is an automotive powerhouse that has seen the birth of numerous brands.

Among these, Rolls-Royce stands as a venerable brand, known as a purveyor to the British Royal Family since its adoption as the royal carriage for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1950. Founded in Manchester in the northwest of England in 1906, and becoming part of the BMW group in 2003, the brand's traditions and design ethos, cultivated over more than a century, continue to be passed down to the present day.



Incidentally, though perhaps not widely known, before Rolls-Royce was first adopted as a royal carriage in 1950, Daimler, Britain's oldest automobile manufacturer founded in 1896, had fulfilled that role. Records also show that Daimler was adopted as the first royal carriage in Japan in 1912.

The company name, Daimler, is the English pronunciation of "Daimler," derived from the name of German Gottlieb Daimler, who is remembered as a pioneer of the gasoline automobile. However, at the time, the relationship between the British Daimler company and the German Daimler was merely a license agreement for engines; there was no other direct connection. Daimler was acquired by Jaguar in 1960, marking the end of its history.



Now, after a lengthy preamble, this time we will take a drive in a Rolls-Royce, a current purveyor to the Royal Family, from London to Oxford. Lined up in front of the entrance of "The Connaught" hotel, where we stayed the previous night, are two models: the "Rolls-Royce Ghost," born in 2010 as a driver-oriented new model, and its long-wheelbase variant, the "Rolls-Royce Ghost EWB (Extended Wheel Base)."

Open the coach doors, and you're greeted by a lavish interior where leather and wood are used with abandon. With the help of the chauffeur, you slowly settle into the seat, and the lamb's wool carpet gently envelops your feet. The rear seats are individual, each equipped with a cooler box for champagne flutes. You can also watch TV, DVDs, or use the navigation system on the LCD displays mounted on the back of the front seats, ensuring passengers are never bored. For those seeking an even more refined living space, the "Rolls-Royce Ghost EWB" is also recommended. With an interior extended by 170mm in wheelbase compared to the base model, the cabin is even more spacious, offering ample legroom.

Destination: Oxford

Departing London at 10 AM, the car smoothly navigated through traffic and exited onto the A40, eventually merging onto the M40 motorway. The Ghost, powered by a V12 twin-turbo engine, boasts a maximum output of 570ps at 5250rpm and a peak torque of 79.5kgm at 1500rpm, performance comparable to a supercar. Yet, the cabin remains exceptionally quiet, offering a soft, cloud-like ride akin to a flying carpet. Of course, when you press the accelerator, it unleashes a formidable driving dynamism. However, this is fundamentally a chauffeur-driven vehicle. This duality, the serene comfort and the potent performance, is undoubtedly the true essence of Rolls-Royce.

In Pursuit of the Finest Afternoon Tea

Just about an hour after departing, we arrived at our destination, Oxford. There was, of course, a reason for making this journey. Firstly, we wanted to enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the beautiful English countryside. Secondly, we wished to experience what is considered the finest afternoon tea in Britain at "Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons," a manor house that has maintained two Michelin stars for 22 consecutive years.

The picnic lunch box prepared by "The Connaught" hotel that day featured simple yet exquisite dishes: sandwiches, soup, salad, and dessert, all made with organic ingredients. Even for a picnic, the preparation of porcelain tea sets exemplifies British style. Although the wind outside was a bit brisk, the absence of rain in England was a great gift for any traveler. Spreading out a basket on a sunny meadow and preparing for a picnic is, in itself, a moment of pure happiness.



After our meal, we headed to "Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons" in search of the finest afternoon tea. This is a 15th-century manor house converted into a hotel, opened in 1984 by Raymond Blanc, known as one of the world's most acclaimed chefs. The two-acre kitchen garden on the hotel grounds cultivates over 90 types of vegetables and more than 70 varieties of herbs, all of which are used in the cuisine at Le Manoir.

While classic choices for afternoon tea include Assam, Darjeeling, and Earl Grey, we highly recommend opting for their original herbal teas. Enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea with simple, flour-based scones and organic strawberry jam is a delightful experience.



Just 80km from London, a mere hour's drive, and the scenery transforms dramatically. Each area and town has developed with its own unique character, fostering a balanced richness of both culture and nature. This landscape, in many ways, resonates with the aesthetic sensibilities of the Japanese, who also inhabit an island nation. Gardening, and the culture of tea, share this commonality. The way they are refined into sophisticated forms suggests a shared spiritual essence.

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Address: Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford, England, UK, OX44 7PD
Tel. +44-(0)-1844-278881
Email: lemanoir@blanc.co.uk
Inquiries in Japan: Orient Express Hotels Japan
Tel. 03-3265-1200
http://www.manoir.com