Diamond Jubilee State Coach Explained

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach[1] (initially known as the State Coach Britannia) is an enclosed, six-horse-drawn carriage that was made to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday, but completion was delayed for nearly eight years.[2] Eventually, it became a commemoration for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The coach was used for the first time at the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014.[3] It has been in regular service since, and is housed in the Royal Mews along with the other state coaches. The coach was used to carry King Charles III and Queen Camilla from Buckingham Palace to their coronation at Westminster Abbey.[4]

Background

The carriage was built in Australia by coachbuilder W. J. Frecklington,[5] who previously built the Australian State Coach, in 1988. Although completed in 2010, the coach did not arrive in London until March 2014 due to issues with funding. Buckingham Palace stated that Frecklington had completed the coach of his own initiative and that it was not an official state coach, although Frecklington stated that the coach was endorsed (but not commissioned) by Buckingham Palace. The coach was subsequently purchased by the Royal Collection Trust for an undisclosed sum, from a private donation, and is now part of the Royal Collection and can be officially put to use.[6]

Frecklington's intention was to create a coach that would encapsulate the history and heritage of the United Kingdom by incorporating material from Britain's historic buildings, ships and other artefacts. The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is therefore an especially wide-ranging representation of the great events, figures and objects of British history ever assembled, items directly related to more than 30 kings and queens of England, Scotland and Ireland, the most influential characters in British history, her greatest victories, her most treasured places, and her greatest contributions to the world.[7]

Frecklington funded the construction of the coach as a private initiative with some help from the Australian government in form of a $250,000 (£138,000) grant. The coach weighs 2.75 tons and is 18feet and 11feet.[8] Like the Australian State Coach, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach has electric windows, heating and hydraulic stabilisers. The Coach is also made of aluminium and has air conditioning. [9]

Description

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Amanda Killelea. Queen's new carriage made from Isaac Newton's apple tree, Nelson's ship and Dambusters plane. The Mirror. 3 June 2014.
  2. Web site: Eccleston. Paul. Britannia, the time machine fit for a Queen. Telegraph.co.uk. 14 August 2015. 30 Apr 2007.
  3. Web site: ITV News. Queen's new state coach celebrates British history. ITV. 3 June 2014.
  4. News: Foster . Max. Said-Moorhouse . Lauren. Davey-Attlee . Florence. 2023-04-09 . Carriages, Crown Jewels ... and an emoji. New details of King Charles' coronation revealed . 2023-04-10 . CNN . en.
  5. No missing this Royal coach on Google . The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) . Henry Budd . 27 May 2011 . 2013-09-04.
  6. Web site: Tom Rowley . Queen's Speech: a timeless new coach, only eight years too late. The Daily Telegraph. 4 June 2014.
  7. Web site: Jim Frecklington . The State Coach Britannia . WJ Frecklington . 2013-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121218001222/http://royalcoach.downau.com/britannia/g6.htm . 18 December 2012 . dead .
  8. Regal Splendour Rules in the New State Coach Britannia . PDF . Rose Peterson . May 2009 . Carriage Driving . 8 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101226053301/http://www.downau.com/publications/articles/StateCoach_CarriageDriving.pdf . 26 December 2010 . dead .
  9. News: 2023-04-09 . Coronation coach has electric windows and air con . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-04-10.