Royal Wedding: Kate's car and coaches being lovingly repaired for the big day
22 MARCH 2011
The Royal Mews - Buckingham Palace's coach house - is a hive of activity at present.
Craftsmen are busy sprucing up the historic carriages and cars that will make up the procession on the day of the royal wedding.
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Given to the Queen on her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the luxury car will have a starring role, conveying Kate Middleton to Westminster Abbey on her way to become Princess Catherine.
The vehicle has a raised roof, which will allow crowds a view of the bride in all her finery.
Staff said the repair was a painstaking job because certain details had to be custom made.
"One of the problems [is] it's such a special car [and] there are details that have to be reproduced and are not available off the shelf," explained Crown Equerry Col Toby Browne.
"The claret paint is specific to [all royal] cars and certain bits of glass had to be made,".
After becoming man and wife, Kate and Prince William will return in the 1902 State Landau, used by his parents following their marriage in 1981.
Adorned with gold leaf and upholstered in crimson satin, the Landau is normally drawn by six horses but four will be used for next month's wedding.
The newlyweds will also be escorted by captains from the Household Cavalry – William's former regiment.
If it's raining they will use the Glass Coach, which was built in 1881 and conveyed Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson to their respective weddings.
Two more coaches will follow William and his bride containing Prince Harry, the best man, and Pippa Middleton, the maid of honour, plus the bridesmaids and pageboys.
Another one will carry the groom's father and stepmother, along with Kate's parents Michael and Carole.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will make their way back to the wedding reception she is hosting at Buckingham Palace in another Landau.
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