THE ROYAL MEWS, BUCKINGHAM PALACE

THE ROYAL MEWS, BUCKINGHAM PALACE TOURIST GUIDE

Discover coaches, horses, and carriages at the Royal Mews, one of the best operational stables in the world. These are some of the things you should see and do during your vacation.

The Royal Mews is the British Royal Family's mews, or collection of equestrian stables. These stables and stable-hands lodgings in London have been located on the north side of Charing Cross and later within the grounds of Buckingham Palace, in that order.

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Location: Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0QH

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GOLD STATE COACH

The gilded Gold State Carriage (7m long and 3m tall) is the finest coach at the Royal Mews. Except George III's coronation in 1762, it has been used in every coronation since George IV's in 1821. The carriage, which weighs about 4 tonnes and is drawn by eight horses, never goes faster than strolling speed. The three cherubs on the roof represent England's, Scotland's, and Ireland's genii, or guardian spirits. They wield the Sceptre, the Sword of State, and the Ensign of Knighthood in their hands and support replicas of the Royal Crown. During your visit, see if you can detect how this massive waggon gets pushed in and out of the chamber.

CARRIAGE HORSES

During your visit to the Mews, keep an eye out for a horse or two. Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays are the two species of horses that pull the carriages at the Mews.

Windsor Greys: The Queen, other members of the Royal Family, and visitors ride in carriages drawn by Windsor Greys. They got their name because they used to be maintained at Windsor in Victorian times, when they used to draw the Royal Family's private carriages. Windsor Greys are chosen for their stable temperament and stamina and are at least 16.1 hands (1.65m) tall at the withers (the point on a horse's neck where the mane begins to grow).

Cleveland Bays: These horses are employed to transport high commissioners and diplomats who are submitting their credentials to The Queen, as well as for various day-to-day tasks and as workhorses.

DIAMOND JUBILEE STATE COACH

This is the newest coach in the Mews, and it was first used for the State Opening of Parliament on June 4, 2014, to commemorate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The carriage is almost 5 metres long, weighs over 3 tonnes, and is pulled by six horses.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was built in Australia and blends traditional workmanship with modern technology: it has an aluminium body and six hydraulic stabilisers to keep it from wobbling. The coach's interior hardwood panels are fashioned from artefacts contributed by over 100 historic locations and organisations around the United Kingdom. The Royal Yacht Britannia's seat handrails are used, and material from Caernarfon Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, The Mary Rose (Henry VIII's flagship), 10 Downing Street, and Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic stations is used in the window frames and interior panels.

The coach's golden crown, crafted from oak from HMS Victory, can carry a camera for filming travels.

LIVERY

You may observe the Queen's coachmen's livery throughout your visit. For different events, different liveries are employed. Apart from a few minor elements, the livery is nearly identical to that of Victorian times, and several of the tailors who manufacture today's livery were also utilised during George III's reign.

You may dress up as a footman in specially-created livery for children and adults at the State Stables.

GUIDED TOUR

Between April and October, royal Wardens will give you a 45-minute guided tour of the Royal Mews. Learn about the antique carriages and modern automobiles, as well as the labour that goes into preparing for significant State and ceremonial events. At 10:15, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, and 16:00 p.m., tours depart from the security area.

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