# Gold State Coach

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Carriage used by the British royal family

For other uses, see [Gold coach](/source/Gold_coach).

Gold State Coach Artist Samuel Butler (coachbuilder) Giovanni Battista Cipriani (paintings) Joseph Wilton (scultures) Completion date 1762 Type Grande carrosse Dimensions 3.7 m × 7.6 m (12 ft × 25 ft) Weight 4 tonnes (8,800 lb) Condition Conserved. In use. Location Royal Mews Owner The Crown

The **Gold State Coach** is an enclosed, eight-horse-drawn carriage used by the [British royal family](/source/British_royal_family). Commissioned in 1760 by [Francis Rawdon-Hastings](/source/Francis_Rawdon-Hastings), 1st Marquess of Hastings, for King [George III](/source/George_III), and designed by Sir William Chambers, it was built in the London workshops of Samuel Butler. It was commissioned for £7,562 (£3.54 m or US$4.19 m in 2022, adjusted for inflation).[1][2] It was built for [George III's coronation](/source/Coronation_of_George_III_and_Charlotte) in 1761, but was not ready in time;[3] it was completed in 1762.

This [state coach](/source/State_coach) has been used at the [coronation of every British monarch](/source/Coronation_of_the_British_monarch) since [William IV](/source/William_IV) in 1831.[4] The coach's great age, weight, and lack of manoeuvrability have limited its use to grand state occasions such as coronations and [jubilee celebrations](/source/List_of_jubilees_of_British_monarchs). Until the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), the coach was the monarch's usual mode of transport to and from the [State Opening of Parliament](/source/State_Opening_of_Parliament).

More than 260 years old, it is made of wood covered in gold leaf. The interior is lined with velvet and silk. It is 7.5 metres (25 ft) metres long, 3.6 metres (12 ft) tall, and weighs 4 tonnes (8,800 lb). It was last used at the [Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla](/source/Coronation_of_King_Charles_III_and_Queen_Camilla) in 2023. When not in use the coach is housed at the [Royal Mews](/source/Royal_Mews) of [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace), where it is kept on public display.

## Description

The [coach](/source/Coach_(carriage)) weighs 4 tonnes (8,800 lb) and is 7.5 metres (25 ft) metres long and 3.6 metres (12 ft) tall. It is [gilded](/source/Gilded) oak and features painted panels by [Giovanni Battista Cipriani](/source/Giovanni_Battista_Cipriani) and rich gilded sculpture. The body of the coach is slung by braces of [Morocco leather](/source/Morocco_leather) and decorated with gilt [buckles](/source/Buckle). The interior is lined with velvet and satin.

The sculptor [Sir Joseph Wilton](/source/Joseph_Wilton) produced the elaborate carvings on the coach. The roof supports three cherubs representing the union of England, Scotland and Ireland. They carry the Imperial Crown and hold the sword, sceptre and the badge representing Knighthood. The branches of eight gilded palm trees frame the roof. Four corner trees rise from a lion's head and are decorated with symbols of Britain's victory in the [Seven Years' War](/source/Seven_Years'_War) with France. The war was drawing to a close when the coach was built in 1762.

Morocco leather straps support the body of the coach and are held by four [tritons](/source/Triton_(mythology)), mythical sea-gods with a man's head and a dolphin's tail. At the front wheels, the tritons seem to be using the straps to pull the coach. They are blowing conchs, trumpet-like shells to herald the arrival of the Monarch of the Ocean. Gilded dolphins hold in place the bar by which the coach is drawn, and the driver's foot board (no longer used) is in the shape of a scallop shell. The two tritons at the back carry imperial symbols, representing Britain's maritime traditions and status as a dominant sea power.[5] The carvings give the Gold Coach the air of a triumphant chariot, reflecting Britain's powerful position in the world at the time.

As the coach is suspended from long leather thoroughbraces, it sways back and forth, and from side to side.[1] The coach also lacks the more modern comforts of other royal coaches which have electric windows, heating, and hydraulic stabilizers.

	- Gold State Coach details

		- Exhibited in the [Royal Mews](/source/Royal_Mews) at [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace) in 2026

		- Close up of artwork by [Giovanni Cipriani](/source/Giovanni_Cipriani)

		- Gilded Triton figures (rear)

## Horses and attendants

The coach's display with [mannequins](/source/Mannequin) shows the elaborate harness and [livery](/source/Livery) costumes

The Gold State Coach is so heavy it is only pulled at a walk,[1] by a team of eight [Windsor Grey](/source/Windsor_Grey) horses wearing the Red Morocco harness. The coach was originally driven by a [coachman](/source/Coachman), but is now guided by [postilion](/source/Postilion) (riders).

Dressed in royal [livery](/source/Livery), there are four postilions, nine walking [grooms](/source/Groom_(profession)) (one next to each horse, and one walking behind the coach), six [footmen](/source/Footman) who walk beside the body of the coach, and four [Yeoman of the Guard](/source/Yeoman_of_the_Guard) carrying their long [partisans](/source/Partisan_(weapon)). The grooms may help handle the horses if the animals become unruly, and they carry crooked walking-sticks to hold up the [traces](/source/Trace_(tack)) that may become slack when the coach is taking a corner.[6] The coach's brakes are operated by the grooms.

## History

*George III's procession to the Houses of Parliament* c. 1762–64; attributed to [John Wootton](/source/John_Wootton)

King [George V](/source/George_V) and Queen [Mary](/source/Mary_of_Teck), 6 February 1911

The Gold State Coach was first used by [George III](/source/George_III) at the State Opening of Parliament in 1762. In this painting, it emerges from [St James's Palace](/source/St_James's_Palace) and turns into the Mall. The King sits facing forward, while the coachman controls four pairs of horses from a box seat (which was later removed in favor of using [postilion](/source/Postilion) riders, [à la Daumont](/source/%C3%80_la_Daumont)). Because the coach is extremely heavy, eight horses are required to pull it at a walking pace.[7]

Most monarchs have expressed displeasure in riding the Gold State Coach. In the words of King [William IV](/source/William_IV_of_the_United_Kingdom), a former naval officer, being driven in the Gold State Coach was like being on board a ship "tossing in a rough sea". [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria) complained of the "distressing oscillation" of the cabin. She would often refuse to ride in the Gold State Coach. The original box seat was removed before [Edward VII's Coronation](/source/Coronation_of_Edward_VII_and_Alexandra) in 1902 to give the public a clearer view of the monarch.[7] The Coach remained in regular use throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. King [George VI](/source/George_VI) said that his journey from the palace to [Westminster Abbey](/source/Westminster_Abbey) for his [coronation](/source/Coronation_of_George_VI_and_Elizabeth) was "one of the most uncomfortable rides I have ever had in my life".[8] He had the coach overhauled after the Second World War and replaced the wheels' iron rims with rubber. That afforded some comfort to the passengers.[1]

## Modern use

Queen [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) referred to her [coronation](/source/Coronation_of_Elizabeth_II) journey in the coach as "horrible" and "not very comfortable", which is possibly why it was not used for her [Diamond Jubilee](/source/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II) when she was aged 86, having previously been used for her [Silver](/source/Silver_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II) and [Golden Jubilee](/source/Golden_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II) celebrations.[9] It was brought back as part of a pageant for her [Platinum Jubilee](/source/Platinum_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II) celebrations with a [Pepper's ghost](/source/Pepper's_ghost) effect being used to show archive film footage of the young Queen waving to crowds from the coach.[10][11]

King [Charles III](/source/Charles_III) rode in the [Diamond Jubilee State Coach](/source/Diamond_Jubilee_State_Coach) to his coronation, opting to only use the Gold State Coach on the return to Buckingham Palace due to the poor ride quality.[12]

		- Illusion of a younger Queen Elizabeth sitting in the coach, 2022

		- The Coronation procession, 2023

		- King Charles III and Queen Camilla, 2023

## See also

- [List of state coaches](/source/List_of_state_coaches)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_News_2002_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_News_2002_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BBC_News_2002_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BBC_News_2002_1-3) ["Gold coach a 'bumpy ride'"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1984344.stm). *BBC News*. 4 June 2002. Retrieved 27 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Value of 1760 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator"](https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1760).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Bates, Stephen (6 May 2023). ["Nothing but drizzle was permitted to rain on this parade. So why did Charles look so glum?"](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/06/nothing-but-drizzle-was-permitted-to-rain-on-this-parade-so-why-did-charles-look-so-glum). *The Guardian*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Gold State Coach"](https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-royal-mews-buckingham-palace/the-gold-state-coach#/). *Royal Collection Trust*. Retrieved 10 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Mews Catalogue*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Newspaper clipping from 1953](http://members.boardhost.com/coronation/thread/1360109213.html) Seen on 1 August 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rct_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rct_7-1) ["George III's Procession to the Houses of Parliament"](https://www.rct.uk/collection/stories/royal-mews/george-iiis-procession-to-the-houses-of-parliament). *Royal Collection Trust*. Retrieved 19 November 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Middleton, Christopher (28 April 2011). ["Royal Wedding: will married life get off to a bumpy start in the glass coach?"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8481190/Royal-Wedding-will-married-life-get-off-to-a-bumpy-start-in-the-glass-coach.html). *Telegraph.co.uk*. Retrieved 27 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Furness, Hannah (7 January 2018). ["'Not very comfortable': Queen remembers her 'horrible' Coronation coach journey"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/07/queen-horrible-coronation-coach-journey-not-comfortable/). *The Daily Telegraph*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Novak, Matt (6 June 2022). ["Was the Queen's Virtual Carriage Ride a Real Hologram?"](https://gizmodo.com/queen-hologram-3d-peppers-ghost-fake-real-video-photo-e-1849022115). *Gizmodo*. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Platinum Jubilee: Queen hologram appears in Gold State Coach during pageant"](https://news.sky.com/story/platinum-jubilee-the-queen-appears-in-hologram-in-gold-state-coach-as-street-pageant-takes-place-in-london-12628157). *Sky News*. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["King's coronation: What is the Gold State Coach and how much is it worth?"](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kings-coronation-what-is-gold-state-coach-how-much-worth-161138917.html). *Yahoo News*. 17 April 2023.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Gold State Coach](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gold_State_Coach).

- ["Gold State Coach"](https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-royal-mews-buckingham-palace/the-gold-state-coach#/). *[Royal Collection Trust](/source/Royal_Collection_Trust)*.

- [Description from CNN of the Gold State Coach](https://web.archive.org/web/20060922034022/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/06/04/uk.gold.coach/index.html)

- [Audio description of the Gold State Coach at YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN4-x1NHhEg) from the Royal Collection Trust

v t e Named ceremonial carriages including royal and state coaches Austria Imperial Coach Canada Canadian State Landau Denmark Golden Coupé Cotillion Coach France Coronation Coach of Charles X Netherlands Glass Coach Golden Coach United Kingdom 1902 State Landau Australian State Coach Diamond Jubilee State Coach Glass Coach Gold State Coach Irish State Coach King Edward VII's Town Coach Lord Mayor of London's State Coach Queen Alexandra's State Coach Scottish State Coach Speaker's State Coach Related List of carriage museums Category:Carriage museums Category:State coaches Category:Royal carriages Commons category:State coaches

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gold State Coach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_State_Coach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_State_Coach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.