Story in brief

• Peninsula Hong Kong Rolls‑Royce Phantom shipped to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu
• Bespoke car donated by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH)
• Cathay Cargo led the move for HSH, reflecting their long-standing partnership, with both companies’ milestone anniversaries this year making the occasion even more meaningful
• Airspace disruptions caused a complex rerout
• The Phantom is now on public display in Beaulieu

Story in full

Heritage in motion

The Peninsula Hong Kong’s fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms is a familiar sight in the city, ferrying guests from the airport to the iconic five-star hotel.

Now, one of these distinctive motor cars has relocated to an equally stately new home at the National Motor Museum on the Beaulieu estate in the United Kingdom. It’s one of 14 Rolls-Royce Phantoms acquired by the hotel in 2006 and built to its exacting specifications. The modifications added Peninsula-style bespoke hospitality elements and comfort for hotel guests, combined with Rolls-Royce craftsmanship and luxury. As the cars’ role in ferrying guests around town came to an end, one has been donated to the museum by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH), ensuring its story can continue to be shared with future generations.

“This was not a standard shipment from A to B,” says Lynne Mulholland, General Manager, Group Corporate Affairs, HSH. “The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a large, valuable and highly symbolic car, so every detail had to be handled with precision – from preparation and protection to loading, transit and arrival. The logistics had to reflect the same standards of craftsmanship and attention to detail that the car itself represents.”

A longstanding partnership

Cathay Cargo was the natural partner, both because of its expertise and the fact that the relationship between the hotel and the carrier goes back to the early days of the airline’s founding. Cathay Pacific Airways once used The Peninsula’s lobby for ticketing and check-in. The move also added significance as it took place in the year that Cathay marks its 80th anniversary and HSH its 160th, underscoring a shared legacy and commitment to excellence that spans generations.

“Our relationship with Cathay Pacific goes back many decades,” says Mulholland. “The Kadoorie family and The Peninsula have always been closely connected with the development of aviation in Hong Kong, so to move this very special Rolls-Royce with Cathay Cargo felt both practical and deeply meaningful. It brought together two Hong Kong institutions, each with its own proud heritage of service, travel and connection. What mattered most was care: ensuring that the vehicle reached Beaulieu safely and in perfect condition.”

Care in carriage

Cathay Cargo carries hundreds of cars every year with precision and expertise, but this particular move called for a bespoke approach. Owing to its larger-than-usual dimensions, the vehicle was handled under Cathay Expert, the airline's specialist solution for heavyweight, fragile shipments. At the same time, its classification as Class 9 Dangerous Goods called for strict adherence to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), ensuring the vehicle was transported safely and under strict compliance every step of the way.

Cars are either driven or transported to the Cathay Cargo Terminal, where they are loaded onto a pallet and secured, at which point they become cargo ready for loading onto an aircraft. With the Phantom safely in Cathay Cargo's care and ready for departure, plans were interrupted by global events. The conflict in the Middle East created a challenge for the Planning and Sales teams.

With some airspace closed, and Cathay Cargo suspending operations from Dubai, the flight was rerouted to London. However, some alternative routes restricted dangerous goods, necessitating ad hoc overflight approvals.

The Cargo Planning and Sales teams worked together to create a bespoke route and coordinate necessary arrangements. “When the Middle East conflict broke out unexpectedly and we had to rearrange the shipment dates at short notice, the team was exceptionally helpful, responsive and flexible.” says Mulholland.

Once organised, the Phantom was transported across the tarmac and loaded onto an aircraft befitting of the occasion – B-LJE, a Boeing 747-8F freighter painted in the famous “lettuce leaf sandwich” livery to mark the 80th anniversary. This ensured a suitably stylish departure from Hong Kong.

A celebration of heritage

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is now on public display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, part of a new gallery, “Driven: Britain’s Motoring History”, which opened in June.

An event marked the delivery and handover of the Phantom by HSH, in partnership with Cathay Cargo, at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, reflecting a unique cross-continental collaboration spanning heritage preservation, aviation logistics and automotive excellence.

Speaking at the ceremony, HSH Chairman, The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, said: “As we celebrate 160 years of HSH and 80 years of Cathay, and the new historic gallery at the National Motor Museum, we are reminded of the importance of craftsmanship and heritage. This was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cathay Cargo. It brings me great pleasure to know this Rolls-Royce has found a prominent home here at Beaulieu, where its story can be shared for generations to come.”

Also attending, Cathay Regional General Manager, Europe Brian Tsoi, added: “At Cathay Cargo, we have decades of experience handling high-value, sensitive shipments, and that expertise is essential for situations such as this. What makes this particular shipment more meaningful is that it is a shared effort between The Peninsula, Cathay Cargo and the National Motor Museum, each playing a role in preserving this legacy. This is more than a shipment; it’s part of an ongoing story.”

That story will continue in the short film Moving a Legacy Across Time, which captures the car’s journey from Hong Kong to Beaulieu and will be released later this year to celebrate both anniversaries and a shared commitment to excellence.