Australian State Coach
Encyclopedia
The Australian State Coach is an enclosed, six horse-drawn carriage 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. The coach was a gift from the Australian people and was designed and made by renowned coach builder W.J. Frecklington
who subsequently built the State Coach Britannia
for Queen Elizabeth II
as a private initiative. The Australian State Coach is sometimes used at the British State Opening of Parliament
and other state occasions involving the British or foreign royal families. As one of the most modern of the royal carriages, the coach is fitted with electric windows, heating and hydraulic stabilisers, hence it is used regularly for occasions such as the visit of Queen Margrethe of Denmark
in 2000. The Australian State Coach is usually kept at the Royal Mews
, where it can be viewed by the public.
The Australian State Coach was used to convey HRH The Prince of Wales
, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and Mr & Mrs Middleton from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on 29 April 2011.
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. The coach was presented to Queen Elizabeth II of Australia and the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
as the official gift on the occasion of the Australian Bicentennial
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
on 8 May 1988. The coach was a gift from the Australian people and was designed and made by renowned coach builder W.J. Frecklington
W.J. Frecklington
W. J. Frecklington is a maker of carriages.After working in the Arctic he moved to England and was engaged at Windsor Castle and later moved to the Royal Mews in London caring for the Royal ceremonial horses and driving the carriages on ceremonial occasions...
who subsequently built the State Coach Britannia
State Coach Britannia
The State Coach Britannia is an enclosed, six horse-drawn carriage. The carriage was completed in 2010 by coachbuilder W.J. Frecklington , renowned for having built the 1988 Australian State Coach. Although completed in 2010, as of March 2011 the coach had still not been shipped to London...
for Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
as a private initiative. The Australian State Coach is sometimes used at the British State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
and other state occasions involving the British or foreign royal families. As one of the most modern of the royal carriages, the coach is fitted with electric windows, heating and hydraulic stabilisers, hence it is used regularly for occasions such as the visit of Queen Margrethe of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
in 2000. The Australian State Coach is usually kept at the Royal Mews
Royal Mews
A Royal Mews is a mews of the British Royal Family. In London the Royal Mews has occupied two main sites, formerly at Charing Cross, and since the 1820s at Buckingham Palace....
, where it can be viewed by the public.
The Australian State Coach was used to convey HRH The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and Mr & Mrs Middleton from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on 29 April 2011.