The history of the State Gun Carriage, which was used to transport the Queen’s coffin during its processions through central London, is intriguing.
The gun carriage, which has been in the Royal Navy’s custody since 1901, was taken out of commission for Queen Victoria’s funeral.
Additionally, it was utilized in 1952 for the funerals of the Queen’s father, King George VI, as well as King Edward VII, King George V, and several other kings.
It was last used in 1979 at the funeral of her cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and also appeared at the funerals of the Queen’s first prime minister, Winston Churchill.
Why is the Queen’s Coffin on a Gun Carriage?
The tradition of sailors pulling the coffin began after the horses used to transport Queen Victoria’s coffin at her funeral in 1901 became frightened and nearly dropped her coffin.
The bearer party, which included pallbearers made up of the Queen’s service horses, as well as divisions of the King’s Body Guards of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, The Yeomen of the Guard, and the Royal Company of Archers, were flanking the carriage.
It was a part of the approximately mile-long procession that followed the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Other members of the Royal Family and King Charles III followed the carriage.
The Countess of Wessex, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex, and the Queen Consort all rode in cars to join the parade.
The gun carriage, which left Westminster Hall at 10:44 a.m. from where the Queen had been lying in state, was drawn by 142 Royal Naval Ratings, who are members of the armed forces.
