Gold State Coach facts for kids
The Gold State Coach is a very old and fancy carriage used by the British royal family. It's pulled by eight horses! This special coach was ordered in 1760 by King George III and designed by Sir William Chambers. It was built in London by Samuel Butler. The coach cost £7,562, which was a huge amount of money back then. It was finished in 1762, just after King George III's coronation.
This amazing coach has been used for the coronation of every British monarch since William IV. Because it's so old, heavy, and hard to steer, it's only used for very important events like coronations or special anniversaries (jubilees) for the monarch. Before World War II, the coach was also used to take the monarch to the State Opening of Parliament.
The Gold State Coach was last used on May 6, 2023, for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. When it's not being used, you can see it at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
This coach is over 260 years old! It's made of wood covered in real gold leaf. Inside, it's lined with soft velvet and silk. It's about 29 feet long, almost 12 feet tall, and weighs 4 tons. That's like two big cars!
What the Coach Looks Like
The coach weighs four tons. It is 29 feet (8.8 m) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) high. It is covered in gold and has beautiful painted pictures by Giovanni Battista Cipriani. It also has many fancy gold sculptures. The main part of the coach hangs from strong straps covered in special leather called Morocco leather. These straps have shiny gold buckles. Inside, the coach is lined with soft velvet and satin fabric.
The sculptor Sir Joseph Wilton made all the detailed carvings on the coach. On the roof, there are three small angel-like figures called cherubs. They represent the joining of England, Scotland, and Ireland. They hold the Imperial Crown, a sword, a sceptre (a royal staff), and a badge for knighthood.
Eight gilded (gold-covered) palm trees frame the roof. Four trees at the corners grow from a lion's head. They are decorated with symbols that show Britain's victory in a big war with France, which was ending when the coach was built in 1762.
The coach's body is held up by Morocco leather straps. These straps are supported by four tritons. Tritons are mythical sea-gods with a man's head and a dolphin's tail. At the front wheels, the tritons look like they are pulling the coach with the straps. They are blowing trumpet-like shells called conchs. This is meant to announce the arrival of the "Monarch of the Ocean." Gold-covered dolphins hold the bar that the coach is pulled by. The driver's footboard, which isn't used anymore, looks like a scallop shell. The two tritons at the back carry symbols of the empire. They show Britain's strong connection to the sea and its power as a naval nation.
All these carvings make the Gold Coach look like a grand, winning chariot. This shows how powerful Britain was in the world at that time.
The Gold State Coach is pulled by a team of eight horses. They wear special red leather harnesses. In the past, a coachman drove the coach. But now, the eight horses are ridden by people called postilions, who ride in four pairs. The coach is so heavy that it can only move at a walking pace. The coach has gold-covered brakes, which are used by the grooms (people who look after the horses).
Because the coach hangs from straps, it's not very comfortable. Newer coaches, like the Australian State Coach and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, have modern features like electric windows, heating, and special systems to make the ride smoother.
Monarchs and the Coach
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Most monarchs have not enjoyed riding in the Gold State Coach. King William IV, who used to be a naval officer, said riding in it felt like being on a ship "tossing in a rough sea." Queen Victoria complained about the coach shaking too much. She often refused to ride in it.
Later, King George VI said his ride to his coronation was "one of the most uncomfortable rides I have ever had in my life." After World War II, he had the coach fixed. They put rubber on the iron wheels to make the ride a bit smoother for the passengers.
Queen Elizabeth II called her coronation journey in the coach "horrible" and "not very comfortable." This might be why she didn't use it for her Diamond Jubilee when she was 86. She had used it for her Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations. For her Platinum Jubilee, the coach was part of a parade. They used a special projection trick called Pepper's ghost to show old videos of the young Queen waving from inside the coach.
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The coach is managed by many people. There are four postilions who ride the horses. Nine walking grooms walk beside the coach (one walks behind it). Six footmen and four Yeoman of the Guard carrying long spears also walk with the coach. Eight of the grooms walk next to the horses. The footmen wear more decorative clothes and walk beside the main part of the coach. The grooms can help control the horses if they get restless. They also carry special walking-sticks to hold up the traces (straps) that might become loose when the coach turns a corner. The horses that pull the coach are always special grey horses called Windsor Greys.
See also
- State Coach (disambiguation) - Other state coaches
