The mourning Defender was built by special order of Queen Elizabeth II's husband in 2003. The hearse is based on an army Land Rover Defender 130 – the vehicle remained largely stock, except that the rear compartment was converted to transport a coffin.
All this time, the SUV was kept in the Land Rover factory's storage, while the Prince's personal wishes were incorporated. For example, once the SUV even had to be repainted – the Duke of Edinburgh did not like the shade, as it differed from the classic army green (a characteristic dark bronze-green color was needed). Philip was a World War II veteran, and he wanted to be buried with full military honors.
The last changes to the Defender were made in 2019, and since then it has not been touched. Now the car has been delivered to Windsor Castle (the monarch's residence), where tomorrow, April 17, it will begin its only and sad mission, which it had been waiting for almost two decades.
