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The Australian State Coach is an enclosed, six horse-drawn coach used by the
British Royal Family. The coach was presented to Queen
Elizabeth II of Australia and the United Kingdom as the official gift on the occasion of the
Australian Bicentennial on 8 May 1988, and first used in November of that year at the State Opening of UK Parliament. The coach was a gift from the Australian people and was designed and built by the coach builder
W. J. Frecklington who subsequently built the
Diamond Jubilee State Coach
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach (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. Eventual ...
for Queen Elizabeth II as a private initiative. The Australian State Coach is sometimes used at the British
State Opening of Parliament
The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It includes a speech from the throne known as the King's (or Queen's) Speech. The event takes place ...
and other state occasions involving the Australian or foreign royal families, such as the visit of Queen
Margrethe of Denmark in 2000. As one of the most modern of the royal coaches it is fitted with electric windows, heating and hydraulic stabilisers; it is therefore regularly used for such occasions. The Australian State Coach is usually kept at the
Royal Mews
The Royal Mews is a mews, or collection of equestrian stables, of the British Royal Family. In London these stables and stable-hands' quarters have occupied two main sites in turn, being located at first on the north side of Charing Cross, and ...
, where it can be viewed by the public.
The Australian State Coach was used to convey the
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
,
Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Cornwall is a courtesy title held by the wife of the eldest son and heir of the British monarch. The current title-holder is Catherine, wife of William, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall.
Duchesses of Cornwall
Until her husband' ...
and
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
and
Carole Middleton
Carole Elizabeth Middleton (''née'' Goldsmith; born 31 January 1955) is a British businesswoman. She is the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, Philippa Matthews, and James Middleton.
Born in Perivale and brought up in Southall, London ...
from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the
wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.
On 5 June 2012, the Australian State Coach was, in case of rain, to be an alternative for the procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. However, it was decided that the weather was fit enough for the open-top
1902 State Landau
The United Kingdom's 1902 State Landau is a horse-drawn carriage with a flexible leather roof which drops in two exact halves, back and front.
It is a postilion landau, drawn by six horses under the control of three postilions, with no pr ...
to be used to carry the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
See also
*
State Coach (disambiguation) State Coach may refer to:
Australia
* Australian State Coach
Austria
* Imperial Coach
United Kingdom
* 1902 State Landau
* Diamond Jubilee State Coach
* Glass Coach
* Gold State Coach
* Lord Mayor of London's State Coach
* Queen Alexa ...
Other state coaches
*
State opening of Parliament
The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It includes a speech from the throne known as the King's (or Queen's) Speech. The event takes place ...
*
Royal Mews
The Royal Mews is a mews, or collection of equestrian stables, of the British Royal Family. In London these stables and stable-hands' quarters have occupied two main sites in turn, being located at first on the north side of Charing Cross, and ...
References
External links
Australian State Coach at downau.com(with images)
Carriages at royal.gov.uk
1988 works
Australia–United Kingdom relations
British monarchy
British royal family
Royal carriages
Vehicles of the United Kingdom
Coaches (carriage)
Elizabeth II
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