The King's Body Guard
of the Yeomen of the Guard
The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard
Her Majesty's State Coach, which was finished in the Year 1761, was designed by William Chambers, and built under his supervision. The emblematic and other painting on the panels and the doors were executed by Cypriani. These are:
Front Panel - Victory presenting a Garland of Laurel to Britannia, who is seated on a Throne holding a Staff of Liberty in her hand, being attended by Religion, Justice, Wisdom, Valour, Fortitude, Commerce and Plenty. In the background is a view of St Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames.
Right-hand Door - Industry and Ingenuity giving a Cornucopia to the Genius of England.
Right Hand Panels - History recording the reports of Fame. Peace burning the implements of War.
Lower Back Panel - Neptune and Amphitricha, attended by the Winds, Rivers, Tritons, Nalads, etc., issuing from their Palace in a Triumphal Car, drawn by Sea Horses, to bring the tribute of the world to the British Shore.
Upper Back Panel – The Royal Arms beautifully ornamented with the Order of St. George, the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle entwined.
Left-Hand Door – Mars, Minerva and Mercury supporting the Imperial Crown of Great Britain.
Left-Hand Panels – The Liberal Arts and Sciences protected.
The front and Quarter Panels over the paintings are of Plate Glass. The framework of the body of the coach consist of Eight Palm Trees, which, branching out at the top, sustain the roof. The four corner trees, each of which is supported by a lion’s head, are loaded with trophies allusive to the victories obtained by Great Britain during the glorious war that terminated just prior to the completion of the coach.
Costs: The cost was £7567 19s 9½d. The final payment was made in 1765. Although designed by William Chambers it was build by Butler who was paid £1673 15s; Joseph Wilton, the carver, was paid £2500 and Pujolas, the guilder, £931 14s. In 1791 £648 7s 10¼d was spent for re-upholstering and for renewing the leather braces. In 1821 alterations and renewals cost a staggering £3113 17s 6d.
Amendments: There have been a number of overhauls, upholsters and renewals (such as leather braces). After the State Opening of Parliament on 29 Oct 1795 it was necessary to renew the glass panes after the crowd got out of hand, breaking the glass and insulting the King. The hammercloth and the box-seat were removed on the accession of Edward VII when the King felt that they interfered with his view of the public. From that time all eight horses have been postilion-driven. Prior to the amendments a coachman drove three pairs of horses from the box-seat and a postilion drove the lead horses. For the Coronation of Queen Victoria it was upholstered to the cost of £862 10s and a new State hammercloth was made at a cost of £997 6s.
Front Panel - Victory presenting a Garland of Laurel to Britannia, who is seated on a Throne holding a Staff of Liberty in her hand, being attended by Religion, Justice, Wisdom, Valour, Fortitude, Commerce and Plenty. In the background is a view of St Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames.
Right-hand Door - Industry and Ingenuity giving a Cornucopia to the Genius of England.
Right Hand Panels - History recording the reports of Fame. Peace burning the implements of War.
Lower Back Panel - Neptune and Amphitricha, attended by the Winds, Rivers, Tritons, Nalads, etc., issuing from their Palace in a Triumphal Car, drawn by Sea Horses, to bring the tribute of the world to the British Shore.
Upper Back Panel – The Royal Arms beautifully ornamented with the Order of St. George, the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle entwined.
Left-Hand Door – Mars, Minerva and Mercury supporting the Imperial Crown of Great Britain.
Left-Hand Panels – The Liberal Arts and Sciences protected.
The front and Quarter Panels over the paintings are of Plate Glass. The framework of the body of the coach consist of Eight Palm Trees, which, branching out at the top, sustain the roof. The four corner trees, each of which is supported by a lion’s head, are loaded with trophies allusive to the victories obtained by Great Britain during the glorious war that terminated just prior to the completion of the coach.
Four large Tritons support the body of the Coach by means of braces, which are covered with Morocco leather and ornamented with gilt buckles. The two figures in front are represented in the action of drawing the carriage, cables attached to the cranes being extended over their shoulders, and in that of announcing, through the medium of the shells which they hold, the approach of the Monarch of the Ocean. The figures at the back carry the Imperial Fasces, topped with tridents.
Centre of the roof stand Three Boys, representing the Genii of England, Scotland and Ireland, supporting the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, and holding in their hands the Sceptre, Sword of State and Ensigns of Knighthood respectively. Their bodies are adorned with festoons of laurel, which fall from thence to the four corners of the roof.
Among the minor portions may be mentioned The Driver’s Footboard, which is a large Scallop Shell, ornamented with bunches of reeds and other marine plants. The Pole, representing a bundle of lances; The Splinter Bar, composed of a rich moulding issuing from beneath a voluted shell, with each end terminating in the head of a dolphin, and the Wheels, being imitations of those of the ancient Triumphal Chariot.
Coach dimensions: Length 24 feet; Width 8 feet 3 inches; height 12 feet; length of pole 12 feet 4 inches; total weight 4 tons.
Costs: The cost was £7567 19s 9½d. The final payment was made in 1765. Although designed by William Chambers it was build by Butler who was paid £1673 15s; Joseph Wilton, the carver, was paid £2500 and Pujolas, the guilder, £931 14s. In 1791 £648 7s 10¼d was spent for re-upholstering and for renewing the leather braces. In 1821 alterations and renewals cost a staggering £3113 17s 6d.
Amendments: There have been a number of overhauls, upholsters and renewals (such as leather braces). After the State Opening of Parliament on 29 Oct 1795 it was necessary to renew the glass panes after the crowd got out of hand, breaking the glass and insulting the King. The hammercloth and the box-seat were removed on the accession of Edward VII when the King felt that they interfered with his view of the public. From that time all eight horses have been postilion-driven. Prior to the amendments a coachman drove three pairs of horses from the box-seat and a postilion drove the lead horses. For the Coronation of Queen Victoria it was upholstered to the cost of £862 10s and a new State hammercloth was made at a cost of £997 6s.
The Whole of the carriage is richly ornamented with beautifully gilt Carved Work. This Coach is kept in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and drawn by eight Bay Horses is employed to convey the Sovereign to State occasions. The Harness used is of Red Morocco Leather decorated with Crimson ribbons and richly gilt Coats of Arms and other ornaments.