Katlin Aas Channels Elizabeth II, Lensed By Sanchez & Mongiello For Harper's Bazaar Germany November 2017

Model Katlin Aas channels Queen Elizabeth II, her beloved corgis and life behind the wheel at Windsor or one of her other estates in 'We are amused, Ma'am!'.  Katlin is styled by Kai Margrander in images by Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello for Harper's Bazaar Germany November 2017./ Hair by Panos Papandrianos; makeup by Pamela Cochrane

Elizabeth first developed her love of driving during WWII, serving as a mechanic for the UK's Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. One of the Queen's perks is that she is the only person in the country who doesn't legally need a drivers license or official plates on her vehicles. 

One of the best stories about Queen Elizabeth's passion for driving people around in her Range Rover concerns the now deceased Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The story is particularly sweet with the announcement that FINALLY women will be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, beginning in June 2018. Huff Po shares the story

The story was excerpted in The Sunday Times from a memoir by British diplomat Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, who was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 2003. It begins with Abdullah — then the crown prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia — visiting Balmoral, the Queen’s estate in Scotland.

“After lunch, the Queen had asked her royal guest whether he would like a tour of the estate,” wrote Cowper-Coles, who is said to have heard the tale from both Elizabeth and Abdullah themselves. “Prompted by his foreign minister the urbane Prince Saud, an initially hesitant Abdullah had agreed. The royal Land Rovers were drawn up in front of the castle. As instructed, the Crown Prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, his interpreter in the seat behind.”

Little did Abdullah know, however, that his driver for the day would be none other than Elizabeth herself.

“To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off,” Cowper-Coles wrote. “Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen.”

Not to mention a queen who can drive like the wind. According to Cowper-Coles, Elizabeth didn’t just drive the SUV, but rapidly whizzed along the estate’s roads as she chatted, prompting Abdullah to become increasingly anxious.

“Through his interpreter, the Crown Prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead,” the diplomat said.