the royal mews buckingham palace
Transcription
the royal mews buckingham palace
THE ROYAL MEWS BUCKINGHAM PALACE THE ROYAL MEWS TOUR PLAIN ENGLISH SCRIPT 1 Welcome (Winter Route): Welcome to the Royal Mews. You’re about to visit one of the finest working stables in existence, and a living part of Britain’s heritage. When you start the tour, you’ll probably see some of the horses. This tells you that that this is not a museum, but a working department of the Royal Household. To begin your tour, make your way through these stables towards the open door at the end; then cross the small road ahead of you. Watch out for traffic as you go. Carry on through the next set of stables and out of the open door into the courtyard. If you need more help during your visit, ask a warden in uniform along the route. They will be happy to help. Introduction (Winter Route): The tour starts in the Quadrangle, where you have a good view of the Royal Mews. All these buildings were originally built for George IV by British architect John Nash, in the 1820s. Even though there have been many modernisations, his basic design remains – look at the imposing stone archways. At ground level you can see all the coach houses and stables. They contain the carriages and cars used for state ceremonies over the centuries. If you look up, you will see the balconies on the upper floor, many of them decorated with flowers. This is a private area - people not only work here but live here as well, because the horses need attention 24 hours a day. This quiet village, in the middle of London’s busy traffic, is home to the skilled and hardworking men and women responsible for looking after everything you’re going to see 2 today. Some come from families with connections to the mews stretching back more than a hundred years. One of them is senior carriage restorer Martin Oates. He has been working in the Royal Mews now for 30 years. He is the fourth generation of his family to work here. His great-grandfather was head coachman, his grandfather was a coachman, and his father also was a coachman. His mother also worked here, for the Royal Collection. His two uncles worked here as well; one was a farrier (putting shoes on the horses) and the other worked with harness. Martin spent his younger life living in one of the flats in the Mews, and played football down here as a child. He grew up hearing stories about his family’s role in The Queen’s Coronation on 2nd June 1953, when this Quadrangle was full of magnificent horse-drawn carriages. After months of preparation and rehearsal the Royal Mews was ready to play its part in one of the greatest ceremonial processions of modern times. You can imagine the scene. The coachmen and the attendants on foot looked splendid in their new uniforms. The royal horses were beautifully groomed with ribbons in their manes. The harness gleamed in the morning light. Now walk on to the right, and cross the small road again, watching out for traffic. The Mews: Why is this building called a Mews? Originally a Mews was a place where falcons were kept. From time to time these prized hunting birds were shut away while they shed their feathers. This loss of feathers was known as “mewing”, which is where the name “Mews” comes from. We now use the word Mews to refer to a place where horses and carriages are kept. This is because Henry VIII's stables burnt down and so he moved his horses into the Mews and moved the falcons out. The name has stuck since. 3 When you’re ready, walk across to ‘No.1 State Coach House’. You’ll see the sign over the door. Semi-State Landau (Winter Route): The first of the royal carriages on the tour is the Semi-State Landau. It is one of several similar coaches at the Royal Mews today. They are used regularly during the year for official duties and ceremonies. The design of this coach dates from the mid-19th century. It became popular then because its double hood could be unfolded, making it suitable for both town and country, in rain or sunshine. It is the 19th century equivalent of a convertible car. The driver of the coach sits on one of the horses rather than on a box on the carriage itself. When a driver sits on a horse he or she is called a postilion. When the driver sits on the carriage he or she is called a coachman. One of the roles of the Semi-State Landau is to take new foreign ambassadors from St James' Palace to Buckingham Palace for a formal meeting with The Queen. This happens soon after they arrive in London. During their 20 minute meeting with the Queen they give her the letters which prove they have permission to be an ambassador for their 4 country. They are called Letters of Credence, so the ceremony is known as “presenting credentials”. Queen Victoria enjoyed riding in the Semi-State Landau with the hood down, which allowed her to enjoy the fresh air. This is a picture of Queen Victoria in a State Landau during her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. When you are ready, please make your way to no. 2 State Coach House 5 Queen Alexandra’s Coach: This is Queen Alexandra’s State Coach. It dates from the 1860s and was first used by Edward VII and his wife, Queen Alexandra, when they were Prince and Princess of Wales. They used it as a town carriage to attend operas, state dinners and balls. Later on, it was converted from a closed town coach into the state coach you can see now. But like most of the coaches here, this is not just an exhibition piece – it is still part of a living tradition. Every year the Imperial State Crown, the Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance travel in this carriage to the State Opening of Parliament, escorted by the Household Cavalry. Here are some images from the 2014 State Opening of Parliament procession. 6 The State Crown rests on a crimson cushion, lit by lights so that it can be seen on its journey to Westminster. It is accompanied by three officials with grand titles: the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, the secretary Central Chancery of Orders of Knighthood and the Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State. The Queen travels there in a different coach. 7 At the State Opening of Parliament, the coach travels at a steady pace, so the public who line the route to parliament get a good view of the Crown Jewels. When you’re ready, move on to the next coach. 8 Welcome and Instructions (Summer Route): Welcome to the Royal Mews. It’s one of the finest working stables in existence and a living part of Britain’s heritage. Today you’ll get the opportunity to see the carriages and cars associated with state ceremonies over the centuries. Introduction (Summer Route): The tour starts in the Quadrangle, where you have a good view of the Royal Mews. All these buildings were originally built for George IV by British architect John Nash, in the 1820s. Even though there have been many modernisations, his basic design remains – look at the imposing stone archways. At ground level you can see all the coach houses and stables. They contain the carriages and cars used for state ceremonies over the centuries. If you look up, you will see the balconies on the upper floor, many of them decorated with flowers. This is a private area - people not only work here but live here as well, because the horses need attention 24 hours a day. This quiet village, in the middle of London’s busy traffic, is home to the skilled and hard-working men and women responsible for looking after everything you’re going to see today. Some come from families with connections to the mews stretching back more than a hundred years. One of them is senior carriage restorer Martin Oates. He has been working in the Royal Mews now for 30 years. He is the fourth generation of his family to work here. His great-grandfather was head coachman, his grandfather was a coachman, and his father also was a coachman. His mother also worked here, for the Royal Collection. His two uncles worked here as well; one was a farrier (putting shoes on the horses) and the other worked with harness. Martin spent his younger life living in one of the flats in the Mews, and played football down here as a child. He grew up hearing stories about his family’s role in The Queen’s Coronation on 2nd June 1953, when this Quadrangle was full of magnificent horse-drawn carriages. After 9 months of preparation and rehearsal the Royal Mews was ready to play its part in one of the greatest ceremonial processions of modern times. You can imagine the scene. The coachmen and the attendants on foot looked splendid in their new uniforms. The royal horses were beautifully groomed with ribbons in their manes. The harness gleamed in the morning light. When you’re ready, walk over to the first coach house near the audio desk. 10 The Irish State Coach (Winter and Summer Routes now combined): This impressive carriage is known as the Irish State Coach because it was built in Dublin in 1851. When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the Great Industrial Exhibition in Dublin in 1853 they both admired this beautiful coach. It was delivered to them a month later! Like all the coaches at the Royal Mews, its decoration is eye-catching with lots of references to history. The edge around the roof of the carriage is a decorated gilded frieze, called a “gallery”. This is a picture of a section of it. It was added when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the design shows the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the shamrock of Ireland and a palm tree, to represent India. 11 The coach was completely restored for the coronation of King George V in 1911. Whilst these works were being done the wooden body of the carriage was destroyed by a fire in the workshop. It was rebuilt on its original chassis in just 19 weeks, and was able to take its place in the coronation procession. This carriage was also used in the summer of 1953 in the procession for the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Three million very happy well-wishers lined the way. It is believed that 27 million more watched the spectacle on television with friends and family. The carriages, horses, harness, coachmen and grooms of the Royal Mews were on show to the world. Most of the coaches you will see are linked with great state occasions just like this one. But there are some smaller and lighter carriages here which are used much more often. If you are lucky, you might see the carriage called a “brougham”, (pronunciation like broom) which carries the post twice a day from Buckingham Palace to St. James’s Palace. It is named after the Scottish Lord Brougham and was first used in the 1830s. The brougham has a window at the front so that passengers can see where the carriage is going. Remember, if you want any more information, you can ask a warden. When you’re ready to move on, please make your way into the next coach house. Please be careful as you enter the coach house – it is darker there than in the others so please allow a moment for your eyes to get used to it. 12 The Diamond Jubilee State Coach: Only two coaches have been built for the Royal Household in the last 100 years. Both were designed by the same man, an Australian, William Frecklington. This one is The Diamond Jubilee State Coach. It is the latest arrival in the Royal Mews – it came here in 2014. It took the designer, and his international team of hand-picked specialists, eight years to build. Its elegant classic design fits in perfectly with all the other wonderful coaches here at the Mews – but it has some important differences. In the Diamond Jubilee Coach we can see the old skills and techniques that have been used to build it, but also how modern methods and technology have been applied. For example the steel springs that support the coach have been made in the oldfashioned way, designed by eye and built by hand. But inside the suspension there are also six hydraulic stabilisers controlled by electricity. The coach’s axles were made by a 13 traditional blacksmith using a forge and a hammer, but the wheels were put together by a designer of high-performance racing cars. Even the four large elegant lamps are built so that they can hold either candles or the most modern lighting. Other modern fixtures include air conditioning, heating and electric windows-all powered from a battery underneath the footman's box at the back. The builders wanted their coach to be a kind of “time capsule”, so a number of items from history were taken and carefully fitted into different parts of the coach. These include wood from the huts used by Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton in the Antarctic, and a musket-ball from the Battle of Waterloo. A carving of the Imperial State Crown sits on top of the coach. It is a symbol of the supreme power of the king or queen. The crown is carved from oak taken from Admiral Lord Nelson’s ship, HMS Victory. It is the work of British artist O.H. Boyd, and it shows how much skill was used to make the coach. It can contain a camera to record the crowds on the procession route-the footage of which is being shown on the back wall. When you’re ready, please make your way to the next coach house. As you leave this space, the light outside will be a lot brighter so please be careful and allow time for your eyes to get used to it. 14 The Glass Coach: This carriage is known as the Glass Coach. It was built in 1881 and was first used by the Lord Mayors of London. It was bought for George V’s Coronation in 1911. It’s one of the most comfortable of the older coaches – it has excellent suspension and was fitted with inside lighting in 1963. But for many people the most important feature of this coach is that it is traditionally used by royal brides to travel to their weddings. Here is a picture from 1923, when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, The Queen’s mother, married the future George VI: 15 The coach was used again in 1947 for the marriage of Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, to Lieutenant Phillip Mountbatten. In 1973 it was used for the wedding of Princess Anne; in 1986 by Miss Sarah Ferguson; and in 1981 Lady Diana Spencer travelled in it to marry the Prince of Wales. The Glass Coach has a special place in British history. But in 2011 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided not to use the Glass Coach for their wedding. Instead they used the 1902 Landau, as you can see in this picture: 16 This was because it is a wide carriage and can hold a bride's huge dress more comfortably. It also has India rubber tyres which make it a more comfortable ride. Please make your way to the next coach house. The Scottish State Coach: This coach is known as the Scottish State Coach. It was built in 1830 for the Duke of Cambridge (the younger brother of King George IV, who had just died) to ride in to the coronation of his brother William IV. It was later put into storage but in 1968 the Queen decided to use it as a coach when visiting Scotland. 17 It was refurbished by the Cooperative Society in Edinburgh. Large glass windows were installed, and glass panels fitted in the roof, to give more natural light for its passengers. The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland was painted on its sides and a fibreglass model of the Crown of Scotland fitted to the top of the coach. The coach was fully restored in 2001, with another refurbishment in 2012. A picture of the finished interior is here: It is a reminder of the hard work involved in keeping everything in the Mews in good working order. The Senior Carriage Restorer at the Mews is Martin Oates, who was mentioned at the beginning of the tour. He worked on the restoration of the coach in 2001. He talked about how the work was done: “We undertake one major project a year. The Scottish State Coach was done in 2001. General restoration of a vehicle will take a year to 18 months. The vehicle is taken apart, meaning the body is removed from the perch, all the metalwork is stripped, all the paintwork is stripped, all the woodwork and then we start the process of painting. By the time we’ve finished, we have 20 to 25 coats of paint. Each coat is then rubbed down and then another coat is applied. If 18 need be, the heraldic work is done, and that’s done by my father-in-law who is the heraldic artist. He will get the vehicle down to his workshop, and then the coat of arms is applied by hand. All the lining work that you see is gold leaf, with a black outline, and it’s all done by hand. There’s no spraying at all, it’s all done by hand.” When you’re ready, please make your way to the next coach house. The Royal Cars: 19 This coach house contains a car rather than a coach. The Royal Mews is responsible for looking after the fleet of magnificent cars used to take The Queen and other members of the Royal Family to their many public engagements. Edward VII bought the first royal motorcar in 1901, the year that he came to the throne. Here is a picture of the King: His mother, Queen Victoria, had made it clear that she did not want any of “those horrible machines” in her stables so Edward tactfully waited until she died before buying one. He bought a Daimler which is still used today. The car you’re most likely to see in this coach house is a 1950 Rolls Royce Phantom IV – the oldest car at the Mews. Here is a picture of the car: 20 Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh ordered the car to be built, and it was finished in 1950. His Royal Highness was very involved in the design and development of the car. This was the first time the Royal Family bought a Rolls Royce – there are now three of them here, alongside two Bentleys. Getting a Rolls Royce was a break in tradition - before this the Royal Family had always used Daimlers, like the one in this picture: The Phantom IV is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce car ever built. Only 18 were made between 1950 and 1956, all of them for royalty and heads of state only. This one was 21 the first to be made. As well as the fine quality of the coachwork it was also the only Rolls-Royce model which had a “straight-8” engine. This meant that it could reach speeds of up to 100 miles an hour – faster than most sports cars of the time. But even though it was so powerful, it was also exactly the right car for using in ceremonies, as the engine performed perfectly for long periods of time at walking pace. When the Queen came to the throne in 1952 it became an official state car. Rolls Royce received a royal warrant and the colour of the Phantom IV’s livery was changed from its original green to royal claret and black, as it is now. There are now around 20 cars housed here in the Royal Mews. The Phantom IV is one of The Prince of Wales' favourites. He and The Duchess of Cornwall rode in it to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The Queen usually uses one of the two Bentleys, which were presented to her in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee. They are specially designed with a high roof, so that The Queen can stand up in the car before getting out. Here is a picture of one of the royal Bentleys: All the cars have specially designed fittings at the top of the windscreen to display the Royal Standard, and the iron shield with the royal coat of arms on it, as in this picture: 22 The Queen also has her own silver mascot, a figure of St. George killing the dragon which she uses in England. In Scotland she uses a Lion mascot. The mascots can be removed quite easily and fitted to the bonnet of whichever car she is using. The State Limousines do not have number plates, but The Queen does pay the congestion charge in central London for all her cars. When you’re ready to move on, follow the sign for the Visitor Route round to the left. As you’re walking, on your right, you’ll pass two large blue panelled doors. Remember they are there, as we’ll give you more information about them later. As you cross the small road, please watch out for traffic coming through the archway. Carry on walking towards the open door ahead of you. Very soon you’ll be entering the Working Harness Room. Have a look at the displays of superb, historic state harness, all of which is still used. 23 As this room is quite small, please be aware of other visitors as you look around. When you’re ready, carry on into the next space. The State Stables: You are now standing in the State Stables. In here is a selection of the other carriages kept here in the Mews, including miniature carriages used by royal children in the 19th century. You will also notice the stalls for the horses and here is a picture of them: There is a green plaque above most of the stalls. The names of all the horses kept at the Mews are written on the plaques, as well as the year they were born. The names were 24 all chosen by The Queen, who takes a great personal interest in the horses here. The Queen is given a list of possible names, which she discusses with her Equerries or the Duke of Edinburgh. She chooses a name which means something special to her – perhaps to remind her of a place she has been, or something she has done which she particularly enjoyed. All the horses here are carriage horses. The Queen’s personal riding horses are kept at Windsor Castle. At the moment there are more than 30 working horses at the Mews. Most of them are not usually seen by the public except when doing their official duties. There are two different types of horse here – the Windsor Greys and the Cleveland Bays. These pictures show examples of these two types: 25 Windsor Grey is not the name of a breed – it came about because the horses used to be stabled in Windsor. They pull the carriages used by The Queen and her guests. They are chosen because of their height and distinctive light grey colour. The Cleveland Bays are a rich, chocolate brown. They pull all the other carriages. They are called Cleveland Bays because they were first bred in the Cleveland area of Yorkshire. In the old days carriages were big and heavy, so the horses pulling them also had to be big and heavy. Modern carriages are much more elegant so an elegant horse is needed to pull it. The Cleveland Bay is very suitable for performing this task, and it looks just as splendid as the carriages it pulls. The breed became less popular when people starting using cars rather than horsedrawn carriages – by the 1960s there were only four breeding stallions in the country and the breed nearly died out. The Queen helped to save the breed. She bought a young male horse in 1962 and has been breeding them ever since – most of the Cleveland Bays in the team are bred at Hampton Court. 26 All the horses here are well cared for. A vet will see them immediately if they seem to be ill and a farrier inspects their feet regularly and changes their shoes. They all have a long holiday in the summer – up to six weeks, which they usually spend in fields at Hampton Court. The horses work until they are in their early 20s. After that they retire to the countryside. Training the horses: All the working horses in the Mews go through at least two years of training, many of them starting from scratch. The horses are trained to wear the saddle at Windsor and to wear the harness in the Riding School, which you will see on your way out. They also have to learn to stand still for long periods – when they are on duty they sometimes have to wait patiently with their carriages for a long time. The horses also have to be prepared for all the noise and quick movement they will experience when they are out in public. The horses have to get used to the sights and sounds of big crowds, like those which come together every year to watch the Trooping of the Colour. There are brass bands and balloons with people cheering and waving. Sometimes on hot days soldiers faint and fall over in front of the horses. They have to be trained so that they are not frightened if this happens. The instructors try to think of everything that might happen so that they can prepare the horses to be calm in any situation. Training the Mews horses takes about two years. After that they usually work here for about ten years. At the end of their duty, they are retired to the countryside. When you’re ready, make your way into the next room to see the Gold State Coach. As you are crossing the road underneath the archway please watch out for traffic. 27 The Gold State Coach: You are now near the Gold State Coach. It is the most important and probably the best-known coach in the Royal Mews. It is over 250 years old – it was first used for the State Opening of Parliament in 1762. To understand how impressive it is, walk around to the side of the coach to get the best view. The Coach weighs almost four tonnes and is drawn by eight horses. Even with so many horses it can still only go at walking pace. It is made of wood covered with thin layers of gold leaf. The images in the decoration tell a proud story about Britain’s important part in world history with pictures of victories in battles in Europe, North America and India. On the top of the roof, you can see three cherubs – a close up picture of them is here: 28 They represent the guardian spirits of England, Scotland and Ireland. They hold up the Crown, Sceptre, and Sword of State so that they can be seen by everybody. Two muscular sea-gods at the front remind us about the great power of Britain’s navy. They seem to be pulling the coach along, while their older and wiser companions stand guard at the back. The panels on all sides of the coach are symbols of peace, good government, the arts and science. They were painted by an Italian artist, Giovanni Battista Cipriani, The coach was completed in 1762 for George III. The painting here shows the first time the coach was used: 29 The final bill was £7,652, which was a large amount for the time. But, with careful maintenance, the Gold State Coach has been used in the coronation procession of every king or queen since, from George IV to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On 2nd June 1953, this Coach was the last one to leave the Royal Mews. First it made its way to Buckingham Palace where The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh took their seats inside, which is lined in velvet and satin. At exactly 10.26am, the Coach left the Palace to go to Westminster Abbey with grooms walking by its side and with a Sovereign’s Escort by the Household Cavalry. Here is an image of the procession: 30 It was also used for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees in 1977 and 2002. Driving the coach: If you walk back to the full-size models of the horses and coachmen and look at the riders you can see that the horses are in pairs with a rider for each pair. This is known as postilion driving. It is more effective to drive a very large coach this way, rather than by trying to control it from a box seat on the coach itself. The postilion closest to the coach is called the ‘wheel postilion’. This is probably the most important postilion driving the carriage – he or she is nearest to it and is the one who is actually steering it, making sure that the coach does not hit bollards and other obstacles. The brakeman walks behind the coach and operates the brake-handle attached to the back wheels. Bringing the State Coach to a stop is not easy. At the end of the journey to the main entrance to the palace the brakeman has to get the carriage into exactly the right place when it arrives, so that The Queen can walk down the palace steps and straight into it. Because the carriage weighs four tonnes the brakeman has to start slowing down about 30 yards before the stopping place, otherwise the carriage will stop in the wrong place. Now make your way back towards the uniforms (known as livery) on display in this room. Livery: The livery the postilions are wearing is the uniform for state occasions – a scarlet and gold jacket, with breeches (short trousers fastened just below the knee), a wig and a cap. Like other royal staff the postilions have different liveries for state, semi-state and everyday occasions. There are many different colours and designs, some of which you 31 will be able to see on your way out of the Royal Mews. Here are some pictures of them: 32 Today the jackets are lined with Gore-Tex to help the wearer keep cool when the weather is hot. There are also protective capes that can be worn when it is raining. But for The Queen’s Coronation, when it poured with rain, the members of the procession went without their wet-weather gear – it was too important an occasion. But what a long day to get soaked to the skin wearing heavy clothes, hard-hats and wigs! The procession back from Westminster Abbey was specially made longer so that The Queen could be seen by as many people as possible. With the carriages, escorts, marching bands and members of the armed forces, the procession stretched for almost three and a half kilometres and took two hours to pass at any one given point. Before we move on, here’s a question. Look at the size of the Gold State Coach and look at the size of the doors. How do you get the Gold State Coach out of this room? Moving the Gold State Coach: Stand next to the models of the horses - on the side where the riders sit. Then turn so that you’ve got your back to them. Now look at the middle of the long wall in front of you. A painting runs along it, known as the Davis Frieze. Behind it there are some hidden doors, which are used to get the coach through. You may remember we walked past the outside of these doors earlier on in the tour. Moving the coach is not quick or easy – it takes several people to remove the gold coach from its coach house, and several people to remove the Davis frieze. Others are needed to cut off the central heating and the wall in between. Then scaffolding is put up and the window taken out. The coach is then taken through the wall. All this can take up to two days and involves half the stable staff. The coach can then be moved through the door. It is not a job which can be done in a hurry. Our tour is almost at an end. But before we finish you might like to know more about the painting that runs along the centre of the two long walls in this room. It includes the Gold State Coach. 33 The Davis Frieze: The Gold State Coach is the last carriage in the procession. It is on the wall nearest the mounted coachmen. Here is a close up of it: This frieze shows the coronation procession of William IV in 1831. It was painted by Richard Barrat Davis, who had gained success as an artist by painting many pictures of animals. He had made paintings for both George III and George IV. He seemed a logical choice to paint a record of the coronation as the procession was as much a parade of horses as of men. If you look on the other side of the door you came in by, you will see that there is a list of the names of everybody in the procession, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the King’s Equerries and Viscount Anson, Master of the Buckhounds, attended by two grooms. This shows the huge amount of organisation and the enormous number of people involved in creating such a splendid occasion - not only those in the procession but also those behind the scenes. The Royal Mews Team: Looking after the carriages and livery properly requires great care. Training the horses to do such demanding work, and driving them, calls for great skill. All this is done by the people who work here at the Mews. 34 These pictures show the many responsibilities carried out by the team here at the Mews: 35 36 37 We asked some of them how they feel when they see the result of all their hard work… DAVID OATES - Coachman “Probably the most memorable [thing] I’ve done is for Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, where I posted; I didn’t drive but posted in the eight horse team, and that was most probably the biggest occasion I’ve been on.” FRANCES KELLY – Master Sadler “It’s a great feeling on a state visit to be out there with all the crowds and you can see your work going past and everybody saying, “ooh look at that shiny harness”. And it gives you a great sense of pride to know that you’ve put a lot of effort into producing that product on the day, together with all the efforts that everybody else has put in.” MARTIN OATES – Senior Carriage Restorer “It's not until you're actually part of a state occasion or you're, as I was, part of the Jubilee procession, that all of a sudden it kicks home exactly what your family has done…That’s when it hits home, and you think to yourself, well, that’s what it’s all about.” We’ve come to the end of our tour. When you’re ready to leave the Gold State Coach House, use the door at the back of the room, behind the coach. If you are visiting as a family, do feel free to drop into the Learning room and try our art-based activities. As you leave the Mews, remember to look out for the Riding School, which is close to where you came in. It’s the oldest part of the Mews and its here that the horses are trained. If you’d like more information on anything you have seen today please ask one of the wardens. 38 If you are visiting in August or September, follow the visitor route to the loose boxes where you will see some of the horses you've been hearing about. And if you’d like a colour souvenir guidebook of your visit today please visit the Royal Mews shop on your way out. We hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to the Royal Mews today. 39