Range Rover gets a royal PR boost in hospital cameo

"That definitely made a statement," said George Magda, vice president of Herman Advertising, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a specialist in luxury marketing. "They could have picked a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce, but this definitely said that Range Rover has made it as a true luxury vehicle."

The Range Rover is the top-line model of British-based Land Rover, a company that had far more humble roots when it was founded in 1948. While closely linked to Britain, it was the sort of brand more commonly associated with British expatriates, especially those who needed an extremely rugged vehicle to traverse mud ruts and gravel trails.

While the royal family was long known to use various Land Rovers on their private estates such as Sandringham or Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II is more often seen being chauffeured in one of the traditional symbols of British luxury, such as the Bentley Mulsanne prepared for the recent Diamond Jubilee of her coronation.

The fact that a somewhat more mainstream product served two potential future kings said a lot about the future monarchs, suggested Magda, pointing out that mother Kate Middleton has become a fashion icon with a strong influence on "upper-class soccer moms," both in Britain and the U.S., who will now want to consider a Range Rover as "an accessory to their own lifestyle."

Not everyone is convinced the news of the day will get folks rushing to Land Rover showrooms. "It probably would have been more noteworthy and influential if it wasn't a British brand," contended Stephanie Brinley, auto analyst with IHS Automotive.

In fact, it isn't. Well, not precisely, noted Laura Ries, president of the Atlanta-based marketing consultancy Ries & Ries. "It's a bit of an irony," she said with a laugh, that Land Rover is now owned by the India's Tata Motors which purchased the SUV manufacturer from Ford in 2008.

It's a case of the empire striking back, and "speaks to the time and day we live in," explained Ries, "where great brands are no longer based in the country they started in."

But for most viewers—and potential customers—Land Rover remains British at heart and its most exclusive model, the Range Rover, continues to be built in Britain.

In fact, an all-new version of the big SUV was just launched for the 2013 model year. The prince's vehicle was loaded up with even more luxury accouterments that can push the price tag of the top-line Autobiography edition into the $150,000 range.

At the same time, the maker shaved as much as 900 pounds of mass from the vehicle by shifting to a lighter aluminum body and frame.

"We had a huge responsibility to protect the DNA of this icon," explained Land Rover's design chief, Gerry McGovern.

After all, not many car brands get the opportunity to provide the first ride to a future king of England.