Gold State Coach
The Gold State Coach is an enclosed, eight-horse-drawn carriage used by the
This coach has been used at the coronation of every British monarch since William IV.[4] The coach's great age, weight, and lack of manoeuvrability have limited its use to grand state occasions such as coronations and the jubilees of a monarch. Until the Second World War, the coach was the monarch's usual transport to and from Parliament at the State Opening.
It was last used at the
Over 260 years old, it is made of wood covered in gold leaf. The interior is lined with velvet and silk. It is 29 feet long, almost 12 foot tall, and weighs 4 tons.
Description
The
The carvings give the Gold Coach the air of a triumphant chariot, reflecting Britain's powerful position in the world at the time.
The Gold State Coach is pulled by a team of eight horses wearing the Red Morocco harness. Originally driven by a coachman, the eight horses are now postilion-ridden in four pairs.[6] The coach is so heavy it can only be pulled at a walk.[1] The coach has (gilded) brakes, which are operated by the grooms.
As the coach is suspended from braces, it lacks more modern comfort. Modern coaches such as the Australian State Coach and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach have electric windows, heating and hydraulic stabilizers.
Most monarchs have expressed displeasure in riding the Gold State Coach. In the words of King
The coach is managed by four
See also
- State Coach (disambiguation) - Other state coaches
References
- ^ a b c "Gold coach a 'bumpy ride'". BBC News. 4 June 2002. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Value of 1760 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator".
- ^ Bates, Stephen (6 May 2023). "Nothing but drizzle was permitted to rain on this parade. So why did Charles look so glum?". The Guardian.
- ^ "The Gold State Coach". Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Mews Catalogue.
- ^ "Boardhost: File Not Found". www.boardhost.com.
- ^ Middleton, Christopher (28 April 2011). "Royal Wedding: will married life get off to a bumpy start in the glass coach?". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ Furness, Hannah (7 January 2018). "'Not very comfortable': Queen remembers her 'horrible' Coronation coach journey". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Novak, Matt (6 June 2022). "Was the Queen's Virtual Carriage Ride a Real Hologram?". Gizmodo. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Platinum Jubilee: Queen hologram appears in Gold State Coach during pageant". Sky News. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Newspaper clipping from 1953 Seen on 1 August 2014.
External links
- "Gold State Coach". Royal Collection Trust.
- Description from CNN of the Gold State Coach