THE ROYAL wedding fever is slowly catching on in Britain as the travel arrangements for Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, the day of their wedding, have been revealed. The newly-wedding couple will travel from Westminster Abbey in a state landau carriage, specifically built for King Edward VII in 1902, along the processional route to Buckingham Palace in case of good weather.
The carriage was used to transport William’s parents, Diana and Prince Charles, after their 1981 wedding. However, in case of rain, the glass coach, which carried Diana to her wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral, will be used instead. The glass coach, built in 1881, was purchased for use at King George V’s Coronation in 1911.
Kate and William will travel separately to the wedding service at Westminster Abbey and she will be using the Rolls-Royce damaged in student protests in December. However, the Royal Mews officials said that they hope to get the car fully repaired before the wedding day. “It’s not extensive (damage), it will be ready in time,” Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne, who runs the Royal Mews, said.
There will be five horse-drawn carriages in the carriage procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The first carriage will carry the bride and the bridegroom, followed by best man Prince Harry, maid of honour and bridesmaids in Ascot Landaus, which will be second and third carriages. The fourth carriage, a semi-state landau, will carry Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh and the last carriage, also a semi-state landau, will carry Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and Kate’s parents.
The semi-state landaus are also used to transport new high commissioners of the Commonwealth countries when they are received by the queen.