Diamond Jubilee State Coach

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was built to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, built in Australia. This is the newest State Coach in the Royal Mews, and the newest coach to be used for the Coronation. Following its presentation to Queen Elizabeth II, it was first used at the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014. The coach is over 5 metres long, weighs over 3 tonnes and needs 6 horses to pull it. The coach has only ever carried the sovereign.

Built in Australia, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach combines traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. It has an aluminium body and is prevented from swaying by 6 hydraulic stabilisers.

The gilded frieze around the top of the coach features the national emblems of the rose of England, thistle of Scotland, flax of Ireland and leek of Wales. The interior wooden panels of the coach are made from objects donated by over 100 historic sites and organisations from across Britain, including carved oak from HMS Victory to create the crown on the roof, timber segments from a variety of historical buildings including Balmoral Castle and Holyrood House with material donated by the Scottish and Canadian Governments.