From sprawling palaces through impressive crown jewels, King Charles isn’t short of flashy features and his iconic Gold State Coach is one of the most mesmerising. It was last used at his Coronation in 2023, but fresh photos have sparked concern among some fans.
The Royal Collection Trust shared an archival and present day photo of the historic carriage. The caption of the post read: “Did you vote for the Gold State Coach yesterday? It won, but it was pretty close between the two options. The Gold State Coach is over 260 years old and has been used at every coronation since 1831. Swipe to find out more about this emblematic coach. The Coach can be seen in the Royal Mews in London.”
Scrutiny over carriage interiors
The “fabulous” and “beautiful” coach garnered a lot of praise on Instagram, with one person describing it as “phenomonal”. However, some people pointed out that the interior is actually looking a little worse for wear. “Clearly needs some TLC inside,” wrote one, and: “How will you know when it is time to retire it? It’s such a treasure,” asked another. One of the images showed the all-red interior with velvet and satin material, but in places the fabric was clearly worn and patchy.
© GettyIt has been reported that His Majesty has his own upholsterer to work on keeping the monarch’s antique furniture in immaculate condition inside his royal homes, so perhaps this is a painstaking project they could be tasked with in the future. The Royal Collection Trust also employs a specialised team of conservators and restorers.
Sally Goodsir, Curator of Decorative Arts at The Royal Collection Trust has previously said: “It is huge. It is four metres tall and seven metres long and weighs four tonnes. Because of that it can only move at a walking pace which really adds to the majesty and stateliness of this great royal procession.
“There are eight horses required to pull this carriage, which adds more of course to its length. When it passes you in the street you will just have this glimpse of gold with the Sovereign travelling inside.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s dislike for the carriage
© Getty ImagesIn a 2018 interview, the late Queen Elizabeth II described riding to and from her own coronation in it as “horrible” and “not very comfortable”. King Charles is yet to speak out about his own personal experience when he rode in it in 2023.