The Royal Mews is one of the premium stables in the world. Providing the Queen with carriage horses and responsible for Her Majesty’s and members of the Royal Family’s transport by motor car.
All the Queen’s carriages and coaches are housed at the Royal Mews, maintained by top craftsmen. Some of the carriages are available to be viewed. The coaches and carriages convey the Royal Family in state and ceremonial processions. From April to October you can enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of the Royal Mews.
Creation of the Royal Mews
The first stables were West of The Strand at Charing Cross. Royal Hawks were kept there from 1377 and the name is derived from their moulting time or ‘mews’ time. Knowledge of the mews goes back to the reign of Richard II. Sadly, a fire in 1534 destroyed the mews. It was rebuilt as stables but retained the name which had become established."
In 1732, William Kent designed another rebuild, opened to the public in the early 19th century. An impressive building, with a large space to the front. Royal Parks at this time were on the outskirts and gardens were enjoyed only by those owning the houses surrounding them. Known as the King’s Mews it was also called Royal Mews, Royal Stables or if there was a female monarch, the Queen’s Mews.
The old Mews was demolished making way for Trafalgar Square between 1834 -1837.
King George III Buys Buckingham House
In 1762, King George III bought Buckingham House. He transported some of his horses and carriages, but the ceremonial coaches remained with their horses at Charing Cross. Architect, Sir William Chambers was commissioned to create a riding school at the new house.
George III also commissioned the huge Gold State Coach in this year. 7m long and 3.6m tall, coated in gold leaf, it is the grandest of the coaches housed at the Royal Mews. From 1821 it has been used for Royal Coronations. Eight horses are required for the weight of almost 4 tonnes.
King George IV Brings in John Nash
The Royal Mews as we know them today were built in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 1825. John Nash was already heading the rebuilding of the palace, so it was logical for him to complete the new buildings. Stables for 100 horses were erected around the riding school.
The quadrangle of the mews is reached through a Doric-style arch. A clock tower, coach houses and harness rooms were included in the £65,000 plus price tag, a vast cost at the time.
Queen Victoria and the Small Village
In 1837, Queen Victoria was the first monarch to call the new redesigned Buckingham Palace home. The Royal Mews took on a new life, becoming an active community when Queen Victoria created a school in the Mews for the families working there. All the Queen’s children learned to ride at the Mews riding school.
Queen Elizabeth the 2nd described the Mews as ‘a small village which belongs to Buckingham Palace.’
