London: With little more than a month to the British royal wedding, preparations are frantically under way to ensure an immaculate turnout for the horses and carriages that will form the regal procession through London's streets, the centerpiece of the day's regal festivities.Behind closed doors at the Royal Mews, ornate coaches were being polished on Monday ahead of the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April.
The Mews, located next to Buckingham Palace, houses the royal collection of carriages and limousines used by the monarchy on state occasions and special celebrations.
Centre stage is the fairytale "Glass Coach", a shining dark maroon carriage with crimson and gold detail, dating from 1881. The coach has been used on several occasions by royal brides on their journeys to be married, including Lady Diana Spencer, on her way to wed Prince Charles in 1981.
The carriage has a fixed roof designed to keep the rain at bay and will be used by Prince William and his new bride on their return journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace in case of inclement weather.
Workers on Monday subjected the coach to a thorough polishing, cleaning every part, from its wheels to the crown-shaped ornaments on its roof.Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne, who is in charge of the Royal Mews, explained the importance of thorough preparation for the royal wedding procession:
"There is something very special about this sort of occasion. It only happens once in somebody's lifetime. And so it is very important that we get it right. Because, as you know and as everybody knows, the eyes of the world will be upon us on 29th April," he said.Attention to detail is lavished on every aspect of the procession regalia.
Leather horse harnesses, richly decorated with brass insignia, are spotlessly cleaned.But while horse-drawn coaches have been the typical mode of transport for royal brides arriving for their weddings, Kate Middleton has decided to travel to church by car.
Middleton will arrive at Westminster Abbey in a claret and black 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI that was damaged in December when Prince Charles and Camilla were attacked by student protesters, according to officials.But if the weather is fine the return journey from the abbey will be an altogether different spectacle.
After the ceremony, William and Kate will ride in an open-topped 1902 State Landau horse-drawn carriage for the procession back to Buckingham Palace, officials say, allowing crowds to get a better view of the newlyweds.
The carriage was specially built for King Edward VII for use at his coronation and is now typically used by the queen to meet foreign heads of state on official visits to Britain.Prince Charles used it to travel to St. Paul's Cathedral for his 1981 wedding, leaving the cathedral with Princess Diana.
Prince Charles' press office on Tuesday released details about the procession indicating there would be five horse-drawn carriages.
The first would carry William and his bride. The next two carriages would carry Prince Harry, the best man, and Pippa Middleton, the maid of honour, and the bridesmaids.
The next carriage will carry Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, followed by a carriage with Prince Charles, Camilla, and Michael and Carole Middleton, the bride's parents.AP
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