Diamond Jubilee State Coach
Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
The regal horse-drawn carriage was made to commemorate Her late Majesty’s 60th anniversary on the throne and has only ever conveyed the Royal Family, occasionally accompanied by a visiting head of state.
A gilded crown adorns the top of the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which was carved from oak from Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory.
The coach’s interior is made up of a collection of different woods, metals and other materials from historic and culturally significant buildings in Britain.
This includes the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral and Henry VIII’s flagship ship, the Mary Rose.
The coach will be drawn by six Windsor Grey horses, with the breed being used in various royal events since 1986.
The King and Queen Consort will arrive at the Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey at 11am for the start of the Coronation service.
Gold State Coach
The Gold State Coach will be used for the Coronation Processions, which will see King Charles and the Queen Consort travelling from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
The coach, which was last seen during the Pageant of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022, was commissioned in 1760.
In its first use, King George III travelled to the State Opening of Parliament in 1762 and has been used at every Coronation since William IV in 1831.
It will be drawn by eight Windsor Greys and will travel at a walking pace as a result of its four-tonne weight.
Despite all the finery of the coach’s design, however, it’s not a comfortable experience – William IV, George VI and Victoria I all complained about the bumpy ride.
It was originally commissioned for £7,562 - or almost £2million in today’s money - and is on view for the public at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
State cars
At present, there are five state cars: two Bentley State Limousines and three Rolls-Royces.
The State Limousines were commissioned for the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 and are believed to be worth £10million each.
It ensures the Royals are protected at all times, with the bodywork and glass being specially strengthened, as well as the cabin being air-tight in the event of a gas attack.
There was even space in the vehicle for Queen Elizabeth II to store her handbag, with the Queen believed to have been involved in the design process.
The Royal garage is also home to three Rolls-Royces: a 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, a 1978 Phantom VI and a 1987 Phantom VI.
Charles and Camilla arrived at Buckingham Palace in the 1978 Phantom VI the day after his accession, and has also driven the 1950 Phantom IV in recent months.
Notoriously, King Charles owns an Aston Martin DB6 Volante, which he had converted to run on biofuels including wine and cheese.
The conversion was carried out by Aston Martin specialist RS Williams, who admitted the car performs better than ever.
