Queen Alexandra's State Coach is one of severalstate carriages maintained at theRoyal Mews, Buckingham Palace. It was built around the year 1865, initially as a plain "town coach". Some 30 years later it was glazed and converted into a State Coach for the use of the Princess of Wales (later Queen)Alexandra.[1]
It is usually drivenfour-in-hand by acoachman. Like all thestate coaches it has a variety of uses, but perhaps its best-known regular duty is to convey theImperial State Crown (together with theSword of State, theCap of Maintenance and their respective bearers) to and from thePalace of Westminster for the annualState Opening of Parliament. (In this instance it is always accompanied by TheKing's Bargemaster and Watermen acting as footmen, a reminder of the days when theCrown Jewels were invariably conveyed from theTower of London byriver for State occasions.) In transit, like themonarch himself, the crown and insignia are entitled to aHousehold Cavalry escort and receive aroyal salute.
