Jaguar's flagship XJ saloon has been selected as the vehicle to ferry VIP guests to next month's Royal Wedding.

Seven vehicles were recently dispatched to a Government department, and are thought to be for royal use, to chauffeur guests at the April 29 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

It is not clear whether the Royal couple themselves will be travelling in one of the chauffeur-driven XJs, but speculation has been mounting after it was announced they planned to ditch the traditional horse and carriage in favour of a more modern mode of transport and the expectation was that a Midlands-built prestige marque would be chosen for use in the big occasion.

The decision to travel by car marks a break with royal protocol, though following their marriage ceremony the couple will travel from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace in a traditional carriage procession.

Jaguar remains tight-lipped on the matter but an insider at the firm confirmed seven vehicles, thought to be the long wheelbase version, have been delivered.

The choice of Jaguar stands to be a major coup for the West Midlands firm, particularly as it would have been competing against rivals like Rolls-Royce or Bentley.

All three firms are now under foreign ownership but the models they produce are still built in the UK, in part to take advantage of British workers’ skills and expertise in the luxury car market.

With the seven XJs toing and froing the car will be given ‘‘the sort of publicity that money just can’t buy’’ said the insider.

He also said that that workers at the factory felt very proud their handywork will play a part in an historic occasion.

The last time Jaguar vehicles were given such a high media profile was when former Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigned and David Cameron assumed the reins of power.

Rolling news footage showed Mr Brown travelling to and from Buckingham Palace and Mr Cameron making the same journey, with the images broadcast all around the world.

“It was the most amazing publicity we could have wished for,” said the insider.

“The car really was the star during a lot of the rolling news footage, with it being featured for lengthy periods of time and being filmed from every conceivable angle.

“The only problem was that they were using the previous generation XJ, so it was a car that was no longer being built any more.

“The general feeling was that we really had missed a trick and to make matters worse we only missed out by a day.

“The Prime Ministerial new XJs were delivered the next day, so we missed out on the chance for some unbelievable publicity by less than 24 hours.”

It is not known whether the seven XJs are being paid for, provided free of charge as a marketing initiative, or loaned.

Jaguar would not be drawn on the matter and a spokesman said: “Due to demands on security, we are not at liberty to discuss (or confirm) any vehicles sent to the Royal Household.”

Steve Fermor, editor of Jaguar Driver, the official magazine of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club welcomed the news.

“This is an incredibly prestigious occasion,” he said. “You don’t just want any car – you want the best car that is out there and I think the XJ fits the bill perfectly.

“The new XJ is a great car and the fact it is being used for an event like this is a wonderful tribute to it.”

The XJ is also the official vehicle of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.