Windsor Grey is a moniker for the grey horses used by the British monarchy to pull carriages and state coaches in ceremonial processions such as those for coronations, royal weddings, Trooping the Colour, and the opening of Parliament. They are named for Windsor Castle where they were originally stabled, though today they live at the Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace.[1]
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Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays make up the majority of the royal carriage horses. The Greys are not a breed, but are of warmblood type at least 16 hands high. The horses are broke to ride at four years old, and two years later they are trained to harness. In order to be safe in the large crowds they will experience in their ten years of service, a placid temperament is mandatory and then layered with extensive desensitization training.[1]
Two Windsor Greys, pulled the procession carriage through Windsor for the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.[2] For the 2023 coronation of Charles III, six Windsor Greys drew the three-tonne Diamond Jubilee State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey with three postilion riders, then eight Greys with four postilion drew the heavy four-tonne Gold State Coach back to the palace.[3]
In the mid-1970s, the early days of the sport of combined driving, Crown Equerry Sir John Miller and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh both competed with teams of four Greys from the Royal Mews.[4]
- Windsor Greys
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Trooping the Colour (2019) -
8 Greys pulling the Gold State Coach (2023) -
At the Royal Mews stables (2012)
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References
edit- ^ a b Bryant, Jennifer O. (6 March 2011). "Behind the Scenes: Great Britain's Royal Mews". The Horse.
- ^ "The Royal Wedding Horses and Carriages". The Royal Household. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
Windsor Grey Horses play an important role in the ceremonial life of The Royal Family and the nation, and have been drawing the carriages of successive Monarchs and Members of The Royal Family since Queen Victoria's Reign.
- ^ "The Coronation Procession". The Royal Household. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ HRH the Duke of Edinburgh (2005). 30 Years On and Off the Box Seat. J. A. Allen. pp. 21, 23, 44, 120. ISBN 0851318983. OL 11598049M.
Further reading
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- "Inside The Royal Mews (1965)". British Pathé – via YouTube.
- "Windsor Greys leave Windsor (1936)". British Pathé – via YouTube.
- Trooping the Colour