Royal Wedding: Horse-Drawn Carriage For The Prince

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding procession through Windsor Town was conducted in an Ascot Landau carriage, pulled by four grey horses, known as the Windsor Grey Horses. The Crown Equerry Col. Toby Browne described the carriage as a wonderfully bright, small, lovely carriage, very easy for people to see. The passengers can sit up quite high. So there's lots of visibility for everybody.

The carriage was pulled by four grey horses, known as the Windsor Grey Horses

The carriage that carried Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day was pulled by four grey horses, known as the Windsor Grey Horses. These horses are an important part of the ceremonial life of the British Royal Family and the nation. They have been drawing the carriages of successive monarchs and members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria's reign.

The Windsor Grey Horses are stabled at the Royal Mews, along with the Ascot Landau carriage that the newlyweds rode in. The Ascot Landau is a bright, open-topped carriage that allows passengers to sit up high and be easily seen by the public. The Royal Mews is also home to two breeds of horses, the Windsor Greys and Bays, as well as over 100 carriages and several state cars.

The four Windsor Grey Horses that pulled the carriage at Prince Harry's wedding were named Sir Basil, Tyrone, Storm, and Milford Haven. Two additional horses, Plymouth and Londonderry, acted as outriders. The horses were escorted by several members of the Mounted Regiment of the Household Cavalry.

The Ascot Landau carriage was one of five carriages of its type kept by the Royal Mews

The Ascot Landau carriage is a four-wheeled carriage with a roof that can be let down. It is lightweight and suspended on elliptical springs. The carriage was invented in the 18th century and gets its name from the German city of Landau in the Rhenish Palatinate where they were first produced. The Royal Mews contains several different types of landau, including seven State Landaus and five Semi-state Landaus. The Ascot Landau is one of five carriages of its type kept by the Royal Mews. The Landaus are used every year for the Queen's procession during the Royal Meeting at Ascot. They are also used for royal weddings, as in the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who selected the Ascot Landau carriage for their procession through Windsor Town after their wedding on May 19, 2018.

The Ascot Landau carriage is a smaller and lighter carriage with basket-work sides. It is a popular choice for ceremonial occasions as it provides maximum visibility of the occupants and their clothing. The Crown Equerry, Col. Toby Browne, describes the Ascot Landau as a "wonderfully bright, small, lovely carriage, very easy for people to see – the passengers can sit up quite high. So there's lots of visibility for everybody."

The Ascot Landau carriage has previously been used by the royal family during the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, where it carried Prince Harry, who was his brother's best man, the Maid of Honour, and the bridesmaids and page boys.

The Ascot Landau carriage was open-topped

The Ascot Landau carriage, with its open-topped design, offered the perfect blend of elegance and functionality for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding procession. This lightweight carriage, pulled by a pair or four-in-hand of horses, boasts a low shell that maximises visibility, allowing well-wishers to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds. The carriage's soft folding top is divided into two sections, with the back section capable of being lowered or removed entirely, ensuring optimal viewing for both passengers and spectators.

The Ascot Landau is a type of landau, a four-wheeled carriage named after the German city of Landau in the Rhenish Palatinate where they were first produced. Landaus are known for their luxury and elegant design, featuring facing seats over a dropped footwell and a sweeping base. The Ascot Landau is a smaller and lighter variation, with basket-work sides, and is used annually at Royal Ascot, as its name suggests.

The open-topped design of the Ascot Landau is particularly well-suited for ceremonial occasions, providing excellent visibility for both the passengers and onlookers. This feature was especially important for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding procession, as it allowed the public to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds and join in the celebrations. The carriage procession commenced at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, taking the newly married couple through Windsor Town, including along the High Street, Sheet Street, King's Road, and Albert Road, before concluding at Windsor Castle along the Long Walk.

The Ascot Landau carriage is one of five kept by the Royal Mews, and it has previously been used during significant events such as the Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, where Prince Harry, the best man, rode in it. The carriage is typically used for the Queen's procession during the Royal Meeting at Ascot and has also been utilised for state visits, the opening of parliament, royal weddings, jubilees, and other celebrations.

The horses' names were Sir Basil, Tyrone, Storm and Milford Haven

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with a procession through the town of Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses, including a father-and-son duo, Storm and Tyrone. The horses' names were Sir Basil, Tyrone, Storm, and Milford Haven.

The horses were chosen for their quiet and reliable temperaments, which are essential qualities for horses leading such a momentous procession. The senior coachman, Philip Barnard-Brown, rode one of the horses and led the carriage. He described the importance of selecting quiet horses for the lead positions, as they would be at the front of the procession and closest to the crowds.

The procession began at St. George's Chapel, where the royal couple exchanged their vows, and continued through the streets of Windsor. Well-wishers lined the route, cheering and waving at the newlyweds as they passed by. The carriage procession was a traditional part of the royal wedding, providing an elegant and enchanting start to the couple's journey as husband and wife.

The horses that pulled the carriage played a significant role in this special day, and their names—Sir Basil, Tyrone, Storm, and Milford Haven—added a unique touch to the event. These horses, along with the other four Windsor Greys, ensured that the royal couple's first journey as husband and wife was memorable and smooth.

Two outrider horses, Plymouth and Londonderry, accompanied the carriage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding procession through Windsor Town was a traditional affair, featuring a horse-drawn carriage. The couple rode in an open-topped Ascot Landau carriage, one of five kept by the Royal Mews. The carriage was pulled by four grey horses, known as the "Windsor Grey Horses", with two additional outrider horses, Plymouth and Londonderry.

The Windsor Grey Horses have played an important role in the ceremonial life of the British Royal Family since Queen Victoria's reign. They are housed at the Royal Mews, the stables at Buckingham Palace, along with two breeds of horses, over 100 carriages, and several state cars.

The Ascot Landau carriage was described by Crown Equerry Col. Toby Browne as:

> "A wonderfully bright, small, lovely carriage, very easy for people to see. The passengers can sit up quite high. So there's lots of visibility for everybody."

The procession route began at Windsor Castle, continued along Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street, King's Road, and Albert Road, before returning to Windsor Castle via the Long Walk.

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