If you had been around to watch the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana thirty (!) years ago, one detail would have probably stuck to your mind—for us, it was the horse-drawn carriage—the first one that we saw outside of a Walt Disney cartoon. Apparently the times have changed, as discretion and perhaps security dictate that cars are more appropriate—at least before the wedding. The horses will apparently be put into service after.
According to pre-wedding reports, Kate Middleton and Prince William will use State-owned Cars. Ms. Middleton will use the Queen’s 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI, with 200 hp under its hood. The Rolls Royce was presented to The Queen in 1978 for her Silver Jubilee by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The car, built at Mulliner Park Ward, London, has an extra-high roof so the royals can see and be seen. It has removable panels that expose a clear dome in the rear. The paint is the Royal claret and black and it has fittings over the windshield that hold the Queen’s silver Coat of Arms and flag when she’s on board.
Prince William will travel in a Bentley, accompanied by Prince Harry. The State Bentleys have been uniquely designed enabling greater use to be made of the vehicle’s interior space. The Bentleys are 6.22 meters long and, at 3.84 meters, their wheelbase is 1.3 metres longer than that of an average family sized saloon.
State cars are painted in Royal claret livery. The Rolls-Royces and Bentleys do not have registration number plates, since they are State vehicles. On processional occasions, the State cars travel at around nine miles per hour, and sometimes as slow as three miles per hour.
The State Car collection includes two Bentleys, three Rolls-Royces and three Daimlers. Members of the Royal Family and Miss Middleton’s parents and siblings will travel to Westminster Abbey in cars and motor coaches organized by the Royal Mews.
Source: USA Today, Vancouver Sun
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