The real reason why royals don’t wear seatbelts revealed

An elite security expert has revealed why the royal family frequently don’t wear seatbelts… and how they’re unlikely to face the long arm of the law because of it.

Almost every senior royal, including the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Anne, has been spotted in the back seat of – and occasionally in the front or even driving – a vehicle with an apparently free-and-easy approach to personal safety. 

The late Queen Elizabeth II, a keen driver, would often choose to go without a seatbelt when behind the wheel on the Windsor estate and her daughter, the Princess Royal, 74, has also been pictured many times driving without a seatbelt on over the decades. 

While Prince William and Kate Middleton definitely wear them when driving their young family around, if the royal couple are attending a high profile event, it’s more likely they’ll too appear minus seatbelts.

King Charles and Queen Camilla seem to be the royals who are the most comfortable with eschewing the safety devices though. 

Whether they’re in one of the household’s two state Bentleys in London or heading from Balmoral to Crathie Kirk church in the back of a regal Range Rover, it’s common to see the King and Queen not buckling up.  

Such photos beg the question, why don’t the royal family face being pulled over and fined for the apparent safety misdemeanor? Or is there another, security-based reason behind it?

British security expert Michael Chandler has guarded some of the most famous people in the world, offering close protection services to the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Bradley Cooper and Uma Thurman. 

While the Prince and Princess of Wales will wear seatbelts when driving in their own cars, for state occasions they’re often without them

The late Queen Elizabeth was also partial to not wearing a belt; the late monarch is pictured attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park, Windsor Castle in 2021

And the Princess Royal, here spotted driving away from The Blue Cross’ Animal Adoption Centre in 2009, has been seen driving without a seatbelt on over the decades

Now running his own company training others to be close protection officers, he tells MailOnline that there’s various reasons – including some you might not expect – why the royals have a flexible approach to safety in vehicles. 

Firstly, he clarifies that when on lengthier trips or a journey that requires some speed to cut through traffic, the royals will almost certainly wear them like the rest of us. 

Chandler says: ‘They do actually wear seatbelts, probably much more than people realise. On those occasions where they’re travelling relatively quickly through London or on motorways – they will certainly wear seatbelts.’

So, when might they not? He suggests that if a security risk against a high profile person is particularly high, then how quickly that person can get out of a car is deemed crucial, saying: ‘The main reason royals might not wear security belts is because of security considerations. 

‘As you might imagine, there’s concerns about extracting a principal from a vehicle as quickly as possible.’

Whether the King will wear a seatbelt will likely have been planned in advance too.

‘It’s likely there’s a risk-based approach. There’ll be a risk assessment, the outcome of which will determine whether or not there needs to be extra precautions.’

And yes, appearance and comfort might also play a role, says our expert. 

The late Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth pictured driving to church at Sandringham in 2010 – a royal protection officer is seated in the back, with the late Queen not wearing a seatbelt

Princess Anne pictured driving while pregnant with her first child, Peter Phillips, in 1977

The Road Traffic Act outlines exemptions for those under the protection of police at ceremonial or state events (Pictured: Kate and William at Buckingham Palace in 2022)

Pictured at Balmoral in January, Queen Camilla wears a seatbelt in the front – but the King is without one in the back of their royal car

Chandler says its unlikely the police protecting the royals are to be queried by other police colleagues on the issue of seatbelts

‘The other element that may be less obvious is the one around convenience. 

‘If they’re in and out of a vehicle, royals will be less inclined to fit their seatbelt every time they get out of the car. 

‘With men for example, a seatbelt can crease shirts and so that might also be a factor.’

The King, of course, is also exempt from prosecution under sovereign immunity.  

Chandler, who has a law degree, explains: ‘Under a very old piece of legislation, the Bill of Rights from 1689, the monarchy was established to be above legal challenges and courts. 

‘More recently, the Crown Proceedings Act of 1947 allowed lawsuits against Government and Crown departments but explicitly excluded the Monarch. 

‘The royal prerogative means that certain powers and rulings remain under the Crown, including legal immunity.’

However, what about royals who aren’t exempt from prosecution? 

Former close protection officer Michael Chandler, pictured with Uma Thurman in London 2012, has protected some of the world’s biggest stars, including Sir Paul McCartney, and a host of high net worth individuals in Russia and the Middle East

Chandler runs his own company, which has offices across the globe, training others how to become close protection officers

Chandler says: ‘When it’s other senior royals, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, a lack of seatbelts is likely more because of a risk-based assessment. 

‘It doesn’t legally exempt them if they’re not travelling for a ceremonial duty but they’re unlikely to be arrested when it was a decision made by someone who’s looking after them. 

‘In short, the police who provide the protection aren’t likely to be challenged by their policing colleagues.’

He explains: ‘Regulation 6E of the Road Traffic Act, updated in 1993, states that for vehicles that are used for police, fire and rescue services, seatbelts used by those parties are exempt. That will include diplomatic protection because it’s an office of the Metropolitan Police.

Meanwhile, Chandler adds that ‘Regulation 6B covers passengers in vehicles used in ceremonial services, state occasions and official events. 

‘When the public is most likely to see the royal family in public vehicles, they’re more likely not to see them wearing seatbelts because they’re on state visits.’