The Royal Caravan

Yes, that’s right, caravans have a right royal connection. The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, UK, features a dedicated caravanning area including a vast array of caravan memorabilia from the Caravan Club Collection.  This rapidly growing collection outgrew it’s former home and was relocated to the National Motor Museum in 2006.  Alongside a specially created 1930s garage, pride of place goes to a 1926 Eccles caravan.    The miniature Royal Caravan, a playhouse on wheels, was presented to Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1955. They must have spent many happy hours in their little house.  Thanks to my pen friend Rose who sent us a newspaper cutting about this little treasure.  Unfortunately, we never made it to Beaulieu when we visited UK.  Perhaps we will have to plan another trip?

The Royal Caravan 

In former times the surrounding New Forest was the hunting ground of William the Conqueror, and later royalty enjoyed exclusive hunting rights there too.  Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 by Cistercian monks on land given to them by King John. Unfortunately, this abbey was one of the many destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII.  The name Beaulieu is derived from the Latin "Bellus Locus" meaning beautiful place. The estate has been in Lord Montague's family since 1538 and has been a Motor Museum since 1952.