Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The history of the GOLD STATE COACH stretches back to the reign of King George III. Created in 1762, it wasn’t ready in time for his coronation, but has been used to transport the monarch to and/or from Westminster Abbey in every coronation procession since that of King William IV in 1831, including most recently, that of King Charles and Queen Camilla. It has also been used for many state openings of parliament and at Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022. Designed by William Chambers, made by Samuel Butler and with panels by Florentine artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani, you may wonder is the gold state coach made of real gold? Sadly it isn’t, though the effect of the gold leaf on its wooden frame is so spectacular you could be forgiven for thinking that it is. In this week’s video from History Calling we’ll look at this astonishing fairy-tale coach and at what it’s like to travel like a monarch by riding in it. You’ll hear about its incredible size and weight, the symbolism behind its classically inspired decoration, what sovereigns from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II thought about using it, who called it ‘horrible’ and who had a hot water bottle strapped onto it to make it a more comfortable ride. You’ll also hear the dramatic story of the day in 1795 that the King was attacked whilst riding in it, learn where it moved to during World War Two to protect it from Nazi bombs and see pictures of it in its current home in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
CORONATIONS PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Htp-kmZNWWI26GZIaCyDI0
HISTORY OF CORONATIONS
youtu.be/_tXTHEoqNXA
CORONATION CROWN
youtu.be/sYLOdnBUb0Q
The CORONATION OF MARY I
youtu.be/U3Woy7AKiCg
WILD ADVENTURES OF THE SCOTTISH CROWN JEWELS
youtu.be/EJ6yp90SUWQ
STONE OF SCONE
youtu.be/6Px07RGN0QU
QUEEN VICTORIA’S COMICAL CORONATION
youtu.be/isfHxMtd7II
LIFE OF ELIZABETH II
youtu.be/pIOBbBwvymA
KING CHARLES III COINS
youtu.be/0SUuN_rL38o
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
LEARN MORE:
Coronation coach has electric windows and air con
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65194594
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
THUMBNAIL: Flickr, Number 10, CC BY 2.0 (detail)
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
The history of the GOLD STATE COACH stretches back to the reign of King George III. Created in 1762, it wasn’t ready in time for his coronation, but has been used to transport the monarch to and/or from Westminster Abbey in every coronation procession since that of King William IV in 1831, including most recently, that of King Charles and Queen Camilla. It has also been used for many state openings of parliament and at Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022. Designed by William Chambers, made by Samuel Butler and with panels by Florentine artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani, you may wonder is the gold state coach made of real gold? Sadly it isn’t, though the effect of the gold leaf on its wooden frame is so spectacular you could be forgiven for thinking that it is. In this week’s video from History Calling we’ll look at this astonishing fairy-tale coach and at what it’s like to travel like a monarch by riding in it. You’ll hear about its incredible size and weight, the symbolism behind its classically inspired decoration, what sovereigns from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II thought about using it, who called it ‘horrible’ and who had a hot water bottle strapped onto it to make it a more comfortable ride. You’ll also hear the dramatic story of the day in 1795 that the King was attacked whilst riding in it, learn where it moved to during World War Two to protect it from Nazi bombs and see pictures of it in its current home in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
CORONATIONS PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Htp-kmZNWWI26GZIaCyDI0
HISTORY OF CORONATIONS
youtu.be/_tXTHEoqNXA
CORONATION CROWN
youtu.be/sYLOdnBUb0Q
The CORONATION OF MARY I
youtu.be/U3Woy7AKiCg
WILD ADVENTURES OF THE SCOTTISH CROWN JEWELS
youtu.be/EJ6yp90SUWQ
STONE OF SCONE
youtu.be/6Px07RGN0QU
QUEEN VICTORIA’S COMICAL CORONATION
youtu.be/isfHxMtd7II
LIFE OF ELIZABETH II
youtu.be/pIOBbBwvymA
KING CHARLES III COINS
youtu.be/0SUuN_rL38o
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
LEARN MORE:
Coronation coach has electric windows and air con
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65194594
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
THUMBNAIL: Flickr, Number 10, CC BY 2.0 (detail)
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
