Is the Gold State Coach made from real gold and how much did it cost to make

The newly crowned King and Queen will make their way back to Buckingham Palace in a 260-year-old golden coach following the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6.

The grand wagon, named the Gold State Coach, has been used during special royal occasions for decades, including at every single coronation of a monarch since 1831. Only a sovereign and their consort are permitted to travel in the historic carriage.

Charles and Camilla will use it for the first time on their journey back through central London to Buckingham Palace after being crowned at the abbey. On the way to the venue, they have opted to use the modern, more comfortable, Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

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Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, used the Gold State Coach during both her outward and return processions during her coronation in 1953, which saw her take a much longer five-mile route back to the palace. She famously described the bumpy experience as “horrible”. William IV, the first monarch to use the coach at a coronation, likened his journey to “being aboard a ship tossing in a rough sea”.

Despite the previous monarchs’ dislike for the carriage, it remains an important spectacle in proceedings and holds a rich history. Here’s everything you need to know about the glittering wagon - including how much it cost, what it’s made from and how it will be used on the day.

The coach is not made of solid gold. It’s actually made of giltwood, which is wood covered with a thin layer of gold leaf.

The side panels feature paintings of Roman gods and goddesses. On the roof, there are three cherub sculptures, and above each wheel there is a huge triton