When visitors finish their tour through the STATE APARTMENTS at Buckingham Palace, they usually visit the QUEEN’S GALLERY where the spectacular VICTORIA AND ALBERT EXHIBITION is taking place. After these two visits, it is easy to suffer from visual exhaustion. But, let me make a suggestion: GO ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE QUEEN’S GALLERY AND HAVE A PLATE OF PASTA AND THEN RETURN TO THE PALACE TO VISIT THE ROYAL MEWS. At the ROYAL MEWS, a visitor will see fabulous carriages–including the “coronation carriage”– as well as the Queen’s fabulous fleet of cars. It is not a long visit, but the carriages in the ROYAL MEWS are absolutely exquisite. To encourage you, I am going to blog about the State landau–THE BRITANNIA. It is an amazing carriage.
The carriage called THE BRITANNIA was designed and built in Sydney, Australia, by Jim Frecklington at a cost of 620,000 pounds. It is the only carriage built for the Royal Family since Edward VII ordered the STATE LANDAU in 1910. THE BRITANNIA was a gift for the Queen from Australia, and the designers claim that the coach has more gold than any other vehicle made in Britain for almost 200 years. It is certainly intersting that the BRITANNIA was presented to the Queen by a Republican Prime Minister who wanted a referendum on the monarchy.
The designer and builder Jim Freklington learned his trade working in the ROYAL MEWS in Lonon.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
