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The world's first national vehicle registration system was introduced in Holland in 1899. Britain followed in 1903.

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The first number plate issued in England was A 1. It was issued in London in 1903. Earl Russell camped outside of the vehicle registration office just to make sure he got this very prestigious number plate. In those days A 1 would have cost nothing but a small registration fee.

A later version of A1, 1 A was sold at a DVLA auction in December 1989 for £160,000.

Nearly ten years on the late Roy Palmer bought and sold both numbers together to a very flamboyant royal prince. The numbers were transferred very quickly to identical white Bentleys, just in time to collect the prince from his private jet.

Today the first number plate ever issued A 1 could be worth anything up to £1,000,000 if in the unlikely event it would be for sale.