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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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:
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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:
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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.
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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
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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:
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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:
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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
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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:
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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.
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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
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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
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will be able to see on your way out of the Royal Mews. Here are some pictures of them:
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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.
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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.
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These pictures show the many responsibilities carried out by the team here at the
Mews:
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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.
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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.
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