We are delighted to be able to announce that HRH The Princess Royal posed for these pictures at her home, Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire specifically for the MESS. Having owned and run her Middlebridge from new in 1988. She is undeniably a true marque enthusiast. We are also delighted to see her car is sporting the Middlebridge Grille Badge purchased from the MESS . (03/12]

One picture shows HRH The Princess Royal's Middlebridge back at Lilacs Grove for one of it's routine services, It was very rare for Middlebridge themselves to maintain or repair cars after purchase apart from of course HRH Princess Anne's car which always had a thorough service and everything inspected and replaced as required during it's brief visits back to Lilac Grove. HRH Princess Anne's interest in Scimitar's stemmed from her Father's time driving the Ogle GTS and she has owned them since 1971. During 1971 The Royal Family bought HRH Princess Anne her first Scimitar (SE5) as a combined Christmas and 20th Birthday gift it was painted aircraft blue in colour and was trimmed out in light grey leather. This was her joint Birthday and Xmas present.

HRH Princess Anne's Scimitars have shared the same cherished number plate which has been worn by her Middlebridge since 1988. The reg; 1420 H refers to her position as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal 14/20th Hussars. [03/09]

HRH The Princess Royal was appointed the Colonel in Chief of the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1969. The number plate 1420H was sourced by the regiment, from a milk float in Bermondsey, London and presented to her as a 20th birthday present in August/November 1970.

The front emblem is a representation of the cap badge of the 14th/20th; a Prussian Eagle awarded to The 14th Light Dragoons by Crown Princess Frederica of Prussia in 1798. The cap badge is still worn by members of the King's Royal Hussars.

HRH Princess Anne's car is featured in Phil Wormald's Middlebridge Factory Video 1989 nearing build completion

This is the only Middlebridge that was serviced at Lilac Grove and followed later by Scimitar International in Havant who during May / June 2000 gave her a full service, Polybushes and AVO Adjustable Shockers, At this time she had a recorded mileage of 98,000. [11/07] If you look very closely you will see that this MB has been fitted with headlamp wipers, I would love to know when?? [03/09].

On several occasions in recent years the Princess Royal's Middlebridge has been seen at a Reliant Dealership in the Midlands for routine servicing & MOT work. [10/10]

[16.09.14] George Sampford, Matt Gaughran & myself once again headed down to Gatcombe to prepare HRH's Middlebridge for the following weekends 25th Anniversary event and what a day ( refer to events section for more detail). [26.04.2023]

[20/21.09.14] HRH The Princess Royal was kind enough to let us stage the MB 25th Anniversary/ re-union at her home, Gatcombe Park and also form part of the official Gatcombe International Horse Trials Event. We loaned her Middlebridge and she joined us on both days. (For more information please navigate to the events area of this website.) Middlebridge Scimitar (middlebridge-scimitar.co.uk)

[26.04.2023] The MESS can confirm that Middlebridge No 5 has been sold! (What a shock, after 35 years of ownership by HRH The Princess Royal since December 1988). The car has gone to a private collector who's agreed to return the car to its former glory while preserving its heritage by minimizing all the works to thus preserve the car's uniqueness, originality and status.

The first phase is complete; the car has received a full service, all fluids changed and is in good running order at 114,600 miles. A suspected radiator leak was discovered during the thorough VI (vehicle inspection), the original radiator was removed & professionally restored to the original specification. The car was presented to a DVSA Test Centre where it passed the MOT with no advisories. The interior has been fully detailed and one very small repair was undertaken using the original material taken from the car maintaining its originality. Next up are the paint imperfections, remember she is totally original and the 35 year old paint is generally in very good condition. The car is having minimalist paint correction and all the paint detailed, polished as required to give a good appearance whilst retaining the all-important originality.

As part of the agreement to retain the originality of this famous Middlebridge, the last Scimitar to be owned by HRH The Princess Royal, the unique front grille badge bar has remained with the car together with the three mascots, including the 1420 Royal Hussars Mascot given to HRH as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Hussars. The renowned Horse & Rider emblem is still mounted on the bonnet, portraying a horse being ridden by a female rider in competition mode. It is believed but not confirmed that this was a personal gift from her late mother, HRH The Queen around the time of the 1976 Olympics. HRH The Princess Royal competed with the late Queen Elizabeth II's horse 'Goodwill', whilst representing the country at the 1976 Olympics in the equestrian three-day event. The 1420 H registration has been formally removed and the numberplate presented to the 1420 Hussars Museum, it is understood that it will be put on display with some other items.

At the time of writing, we await to hear what the future holds for this car, a unique piece of motoring history. We have however been assured that it may be made available for certain events in the future.

Extras: Headlamp Wipe Wash, Private Plate. MESS: MB Grille Badge, MESS tread-plates fully signed by all the owners & enthusiasts that attended the Gatcombe 25th Anniversary Event.