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Palaces & Buildings

Concours of Elegance automotive event to be held at Windsor Castle in 2016

The largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle, will next year play host to quite a prestigious show, the Concours of Elegance automotive event. From the 2nd to the 4th September 2016, the most spectacular and exceptional cars will gather in the Castle’s Quadrangle to take part in a year’s worth of celebrations marking Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday.

A previous Contours of Elegance event held in the grounds of St James's Palace.

A previous Contours of Elegance event held in the grounds of St James’s Palace.

The Concours of Elegance is a very unique event for the UK, being the only automotive event to be held at a royal venue each year. The show’s inception was at Windsor Castle and subsequent events have seen it held at St James’s Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Hampton Court Palace. The 2016 show will be its fifth year and will see it make a triumphant return to Windsor.

In addition to its rather royal settings, the Concours of Elegance is also unique in the fact that the judging for the concours is done entirely and exclusively by the owners of the vehicles and not by a formal judging panel.

Prince Michael of Kent is Patron of Concours of Elegance and also serves as Chief Judge in the Royal Automobile Club’s Club Trophy, which brings together the ‘best of the best’ of the UK’s car club scene. The winner of the Club Trophy is granted automatic entry in to the following year’s Concours of Elegance selection of 60 cars.

Organisers of the Concours of Elegance state that if a car has been invited to participate, it is already a winner, with each vehicle owner given one vote for another car in the Concours that they consider the most elegant. The car which receives the most votes receives the Concours of Elegance Pullman Trophy and is named ‘Best in Show’.

The 2016 Concours of Elegance will take place at Windsor Castle between 2nd and 4th September and will be open to the public on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September. Tickets and hospitality are available to purchase in advance.

Photo Credits: mangopulp2008 & Craig