Riding Like Royalty: Trump, King Charles, and the 174-Year-Old Irish State Coach

Source: AFP

 When President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania touched down in the UK on September 17, they got a welcome that was anything but ordinary. Instead of hopping into “The Beast,” his famous armored limo, President Trump found himself climbing into a gleaming, horse-drawn carriage with King Charles III — and he looked like he was loving every second of it.


Their ride? The Irish State Coach, a 174-year-old royal carriage that’s basically a moving piece of history. Built back in 1851 by Irish coachbuilder John Hutton, it caught the eye of Queen Victoria at an exhibition in Dublin. She liked it so much that it became one of her favorite ways to travel — and she kept using it even after Prince Albert passed away.

The coach is a stunner. Today it’s painted in deep blue and black, detailed with gold flourishes. The roof is topped with a golden crown on a red cushion, with delicate patterns stretching to each corner — roses for England, thistles for Scotland, shamrocks for Ireland, and palms for India (added in 1876 when Queen Victoria became Empress of India). Inside, passengers sink into soft blue damask fabric. It’s royal luxury on wheels — or, well, on hooves.

The Irish State Coach has had its share of drama, too. In 1911, while in for repairs in London, it was almost completely destroyed in a fire. Only the iron frame survived. But in just 19 weeks, craftsmen rebuilt it in time for King George V’s coronation procession. The latest major makeover happened in the late 1980s, ensuring it’s still gleaming today.

Normally, the carriage is used for grand occasions like state openings of Parliament or royal weddings. Seeing President Trump sitting next to King Charles III in it was a rare, head-turning moment — one of those images that blend history, ceremony, and a dash of showmanship.

And honestly? For a man who usually rides in a bulletproof limo called “The Beast,” rolling through Windsor Castle in a 19th-century royal carriage looked like quite an upgrade.

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