La Procession du Sacre

The Coronation Procession, was much larger in scale, taking the same route in reverse. The Coronation Procession included Armed Forces from across the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories, and all Services of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, alongside The Sovereign’s Bodyguard and Royal Watermen.

Featuring nearly 4,000 personnel, this major military ceremonial operation was the largest of its kind since the 1953 Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Coronation Procession represented the diversity and traditions of the UK and Commonwealth Armed Forces. A full-spectrum display of unique and historic uniforms whose designs are in some cases hundreds of years old, flags from across the Commonwealth and 20 different bands – all marching in exact rhythm – demonstrated the very best of the Armed Forces. They guided Their Majesties back to Buckingham Palace, before conducting The Royal Salute.

The Royal British Legion provided a Guard of Honour of 100 Standard Bearers to line the procession route in Parliament Square. The charity’s participation is in line with its support at previous significant royal events. The Standard Bearers represented the RBL and seven other associated Armed Forces charities; The Royal Naval Association, Royal Marines Association, Army Benevolent Fund, Air Forces Association, Royal Commonwealth and Ex Services League, Merchant Navy Association and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

The route was:

    Broad Sanctuary
    Parliament Square (South and East sides)
    Parliament Street
    Whitehall
    Trafalgar Square (south side)
    Admiralty Arch
    The Mall
    Queen’s Gardens (south side)
    Buckingham Palace Centre Gate

The route was lined by the Armed Forces, Standard Bearers of the Royal British Legion, Uniformed Civilian Services and Youth Organisations.

Standards, Guidons and Colours of the Army, along with the Truncheon of the Brigade of Gurkhas were stationed on the route at the south side of the Queen Victoria Memorial.

A tri-Service Guard of Honour found by the Royal Navy, the Foot Guards and the Royal Air Force, all with Colours and accompanied by a Band of the Royal Marines, were positioned in Queen’s Gardens facing the Forecourt Centre Gate. This was to give a Royal Salute as The King, The Queen, and other Members of the Royal Family passed.

The King’s Life Guard turned out on Whitehall at Horse Guards Front Yard. This was to give a Royal Salute as The King, The Queen and other Members of the Royal Family pass.

The King and The Queen travelled in the Gold State Coach.

The following flanked the Gold State Coach:

    4 Royal Watermen.
    4 King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard.

The following walked in the Procession:

    The King’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms: 1 Officer, an Officer bearing the Standard with 2 escorts, 12 Gentlemen, 1 Officer.
    The King’s Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers: 1 Officer, an Officer bearing the Colour with 2 escorts, 12 Archers, 1 Officer.
    The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard: 1 Officer, an Officer bearing the Colour with 2 escorts, 12 Yeomen, Deputy Sergeant Major.
    The King’s Bargemaster and 12 Royal Watermen.
    Yeomen Warders of the Tower of London: 1 Officer, Chief Yeoman Warder bearing the Mace with 2 escorts, 12 Yeomen Warders, Yeoman Gaoler.

Their Majesties travelled in the Gold State Coach. The coach, last seen during the Pageant of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022, was commissioned in 1760 and was first used by King George III to travel to the State Opening of Parliament in 1762. The coach has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831. The coach was drawn by eight Windsor Greys and, due to its weight of four tonnes, will travel at walking pace.

The coach has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831.

The coach, last seen during the Pageant of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022, was commissioned in 1760 and was first used by King George III, to travel to the State Opening of Parliament in 1762. The coach only ever conveys the sovereign, sometimes with their consort. When the Sovereign is being conveyed in the coach, it would therefore only ever be escorted by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

The coach was drawn by eight Windsor Greys and, due to its weight of four tonnes, travelled at walking pace. Driven by postilions in full state livery; a postilion was mounted on the left hand (near side) of each pair of horses. Grooms in full State livery walked close to the carriage. Slightly further away from the carriage body, and carrying long polearm called a partisan, walked the Yeomen of The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard (not what is today called a Beefeater, who are a different body within the same corps).

Made of giltwood – a thin layer of gold leaf over wood – the Gold State Coach is the third oldest coach surviving in the UK. It is 3.6 metres tall (significantly higher than normal coaches of this age, so the Monarch can be seen and over seven metres long.

Last fully regilded in 1977 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, although in places it bears evidence of between seven and ten layers of gilding and retouching over the past 261 years. When not in use, on public display whenever the Royal Mews is open, and will return to display shortly after the Coronation.

The coach was drawn by eight Windsor Greys : Icon and Shadow; Milford Haven and Newark; Echo and Knightsbridge; Meg and Tyrone.

The following Members of the Royal Family travelled by Carriage:
• The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales
• The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Lady Louise Mountbatten Windsor and Earl of Wessex.
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
• The Princess Royal, as Colonel of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), will be Gold Stick-in-Waiting, riding in the Procession.