The King of Sweden drives a decidedly un-royal car

The 77-year-old monarch has been spotted behind the wheel of an unexpectedly bold ride… and it’s not a Volvo.

As a monarch in his late 70s, you’d probably expect King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to be found in the back of a Bentley, Rolls-Royce or at least a Volvo… right?

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Wrong. The 77-year-old Scandinavian royal is a committed car guy who far prefers race-ready performance cars to stuffy luxury cruisers.

As evidence of this, the King was recently spotted arriving at the Salzburg Opera Festival behind the wheel of a bold red BMW M4 Competition, complete with black carbon roof and what appears to be a custom bonnet decal.

Given the King is out of his royal realm while visiting Austria and the car is wearing what appears to be a BMW Group number plate, it’s likely the M4 is a loan vehicle.

Still, we just love the fact King Carl chose such a hot car for his night out with his wife, plus the fact he wants to drive himself, despite probably having a fleet of drivers at his beck and call.

The monarch looks right at home behind the wheel of the M4 Comp, which is priced from $176,900 plus on-road costs.

In fact, the royal is a long-time lover of BMW M cars. He also owns an M8 Competition, an M3 CSL and an E39 M5.

As recently as August 2023, an 1987 BMW M5 formerly belonging to the Swedish King was put up for auction on US site Bring a Trailer.

Finished in Malachite Green Metallic paint with gold wheels and a gold stripe – it was a pretty spiffy example and sold for $US140,000 ($AU216,803).

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