The New King Will Ride In Comfort To His Coronation in An Australian-Made Coach

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach, Grahamedown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

King Charles III will ride in comfort to his coronation tomorrow in an Australian-made coach. The Dianond Jubilee State Coach was made by Jim "WJ" Frecklington in Manly, Sydney. The beautiful coach has six hydraulic stabilisers to ensure a smooth ride, heating, electric windows and even air-conditioning. It needs six horses to draw it, though.

Jim Frecklington, who used to care for the Queen's show horses, wanted to make 'something nice' for her. Although he received a grant from the Howard government for $245,000.00, he also mortgaged his house so that he could afford to manufacture it.

The coach is made from aluminium on the outside which looks like old-fashioned wood, but the interior wooden panels include segments from 100 historic palaces, ships and buildings, including the Mary Rose, the Tower of London and St. Paul's Cathedral. The crown on top of the coach is crafted from timber from Lord Nelson's famous ship, HMS Victory. Jim Frecklington told the Sydney Morning Herald that he 'tried to encapsulate 100 years of the history of England in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach which I think is the reason that King Charles is very fond of that particular coach'.

The coach was first used at the state opening of Parliament on June 14, 2014.