THE ROYAL MEWS
These Coaches of the Crown Won't Turn to Pumpkins
On
grand state occasions in England, for the most part viewed on newsreel
footage and now in lesser royal ceremonies like the marriage
of Wills and Kate, the kings and queens
of the world’s best known monarchy
ride in historic ornate gilded state coaches with coachman draped in
colorful traditional livery pulled by clopping precision Windsor Grey
horses down the Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace. Maybe you missed the
wedding of the century and your next tourist trip to London may not
be in time for a coronation, but
you
can view
the great
coaches of the English royal family at the Royal Mews. Like the names
of those small London back streets, mews are basically rows of stables
and the Royal Mews are located on Buckingham Palace Road next to the
Queens Gallery (see Queen's
Gallery Rotal Collection)
between Victoria Station and the gates to Buckingham Palace.
The
Royal Mews houses the collection of royal coaches built over two
centuries for the use of
the English
crown. The mews are still an
everyday working stables as part of England’s royal heritage, with
the Royal Mews responsible for all road travel arrangements for the queen
and family, whether by boring old car or the grand coaches. The coaches
are kept in small little numbered garages behind wooden doors, opened
for viewing with a card describing the origin and protocol for each.
Guided tours are given at regular intervals by liveried working coachman
guides.
The
coaches on display include the Glass Coach used by royal
brides, though for the Prince William and Catherine wedding the 1902
open State Landau Coach built for Edward VII's coronation was used
for the bride and groom, while the Queen and Prince Phillip
rode away from Westminster (see Gothic
Westminster Abbey) in the Scottish Coach, which looks
very much like the Glass coach. The way you tell the difference is
the queen's
coach
has the sovereign crown
on the roof. A princess doesn't get one of those without some waiting
in line. The
Glass Coach is not actually made of glass like Cinderella’s
slipper, but has large windows. The Irish
State Coach is another of the coaches often used by the queen
to ride to the State Opening of Parliament.
The queen only recently visited Ireland for the first time. Using
the coach for parliament shows they haven't been forgotten.
The
most impressive of the royal coaches is the Golden State Coach
used
almost exclusively for coronations.
This magnificent monster is impossibly
ornate,
gilt
with
gold
dripping
from all
corners, it weighs four tons and takes a full eight of the Windsor
Greys and Cleveland Bays horse breeds to pull. It is displayed
in its own hall with mounted coachman on horses. The Mews offers activities
for children and families. Also on display are the historic livery
uniforms worn by coachmen through the years.
The
Royal Mews are open most days except Friday afternoons and state occasions.
Five minutes walk
from Victoria
Station, the mews are a possible
spot to visit after catching the changing of the guards at Buckingham
Palace (see London
Bus Sight-Seeing). Prices are £7 for adults and £4.50
for children between 5 and 17, family tickets are available for £18.50.
Purchasing one ticket allows
you unlimited admission for a year. Just in case those old wild oats
get the better of Prince Harry…well, you know. Hurry up and polish
up that old Glass Coach. © Bargain
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Royal Collection
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See Also:
GREAT BRITISH HERITAGE PASS SAVINGS
FAMILY ANCESTRY TRAVEL IN BRITAIN
WINDSOR CASTLE - THE QUEEN'S HOUSE
VISIT BRITAIN ROYAL TOUR SIGHTS
