Australian State Coach
| Australian State Coach | |
|---|---|
| Artist | W. J. Frecklington (coach builder) |
| Completion date | 1988 |
| Type | Berlin-style coach |
| Dimensions | 3.0 m × 6.1 m (10 ft × 20 ft) |
| Weight | 2.75 tons |
| Condition | in use |
| Location | Royal Mews, London, UK |
| Owner | The Crown |
The Australian State Coach is an enclosed, six horse-drawn coach used by the British royal family. Constructed in 1986-88, it was the first royal state coach to have been built since 1902. It was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in Canberra on 8 May 1988, as the official gift on the occasion of the Australian Bicentennial, and was first used in November of that year by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament in the UK.
This state coach was a gift to the Queen from the Australian people and was designed and built by the coach builder W. J. Frecklington (who subsequently built the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for Queen Elizabeth II as a private initiative). Apart from the Waterford crystal surrounding the lamps and the blue silk brocaded upholstery (which was provided by the royal household), the coach was entirely constructed using best-quality Australian materials. The Australian State Coach is usually kept at the Royal Mews, where it can be viewed by the public.