The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

The 45-minute tours of the Royal Mews are led by the Wardens, dressed in their striking red and navy livery, and depart at regular intervals throughout the day at the start of the visit.

The tour introduces the work of the Royal Mews, whose staff are responsible for all road travel by The Queen and members of the Royal Family, whether by historic carriage or modern car. You hear how the Mews serves The Queen in the performance of her official duties and prepares for major State and ceremonial occasions, as well as introduce the latest addition to the Mews, The Diamond Jubilee State Coach. 

Visitors to the Royal Mews can also see some of the fine livery worn by The Queen’s coachmen. Apart from a few small details, it remains much the same as it was in Victorian times. Remarkably, some of the tailors used for production of liveries today are the same companies employed during the reign of George III in the 18th century.

Family Event

Have you ever wondered how much a horse shoe weighs? What shapes are the hats worn by coachmen? What does the shiny surface of a carriage feel like?

Join us in the Learning Room to explore objects from our handling collection. Take inspiration from the garments on view and put together a new livery (special uniform) for Albert the Coachman.

State Coach

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is now on display to the public. This spectacular new coach, which conveyed Her Majesty The Queen to the State Opening of Parliament procession on 4 June, can be viewed alongside other historic coaches and carriages at the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is a horse-drawn carriage measuring almost five-and-a-half metres long, over three metres high and weighing over three tonnes. It requires three grooms and is drawn by six horses. The coach was conceived by Mr Jim Frecklington and built in Australia by a team of craftsmen under his leadership.

The interior of the coach incorporates items donated by over 100 of Britain's historic sites and organisations.

The seat handrails are from the Royal Yacht Britannia, and the window frames and interior panels include material from Caernarfon Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, The Mary Rose (Henry VIII's flagship), 10 Downing Street, and the Antarctic bases of Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. A British lead musket ball from the Battle of Waterloo and a piece of metal from the casting of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for military bravery, are also among the items built into the coach.