King Charles' gold carriage is available in mini format - but only for a short time
27.4.2023
Translation: machine translated
To mark the coronation of Charles III, Matchbox is recreating the historic golden Royal carriage. The commemorative piece is so exquisite that it will only be produced to order and only until mid-May. However, Charles himself only wants to be driven in the original carriage for a short time on his big day.
7.3 metres long, 2.4 metres wide and 3.7 metres high: these are the impressive dimensions of the "Golden State Coach" - the golden coach of the British royal family. Eight horses will set the four-tonne vehicle in motion on Saturday, 6 May: King Charles III and his wife Camilla will be celebrated by the people in it after his official coronation on their journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
Source: Shutterstock
Fans can now buy at least a mini version of the carriage. To mark the major royal event, Matchbox is producing a detailed 1:64 scale model, as toy manufacturer Mattel announced in a press release on Wednesday. What makes it special is that the carriage will be made exclusively to order and is therefore set to be "one of the most exclusive models Matchbox has ever created", according to Robert Stanichi, Global Head of Vehicles at Mattel. The model can be ordered from 27 April to 18 May 2023 via Mattelcreations.com at a price equivalent to around 66 francs.
Matchbox will produce the model exclusively to order.
Matchbox owes a lot to the Royals
The fact that Matchbox is producing a model for the coronation is no coincidence. The British brand has always had a close connection to the British royal family. Strictly speaking, it only exists thanks to them: 70 years ago, the London-based die-casting company Lesney sold a small silver-plated royal carriage to mark Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne - the success at the time, with over a million sold, subsequently enabled Lesney to found Matchbox. The brand is known for its toy cars and, according to Mattel, more than three billion have been produced to date.
One of these is now the mini carriage of King Charles. The set with horses is 23 centimetres long, is made of zamak - an alloy of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper - with a gold metallic finish and, according to the manufacturer, is the most detailed model of the royal carriage.
Source: Mattel
Why Charles is breaking with tradition
The original carriage, which was built in 1762 and has been used at every British coronation since the coronation of George IV in 1821, is made of wood and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf. The walls and seats are trimmed with red velvet and silk satin. Lots of frills, but anything but cosy: the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth II once described the carriage in a BBC documentary as "awful" and the leather-covered springs were "not very comfortable".
Perhaps this is why King Charles III only intends to use the 260-year-old golden carriage for a short time the weekend after next. After his coronation, he will only travel a short distance back to Buckingham Palace in it - 70 years ago, his mother Elizabeth took a route through the city that was more than twice as long.
For the outward journey to Westminster Abbey, 74-year-old Charles even dispenses with tradition altogether. Instead, he had himself driven to the coronation in the much more modern "Diamond Jubilee" carriage. This was built for the Queen's jubilee in 2012 and is equipped with heating, air conditioning and better suspension, as N-tv.de reported with reference to the British news agency PA. Both Charles and Camilla have complained of back problems in the past. It is not known whether the more luxurious "Diamond Jubilee" will soon also be available as a Matchbox model.
Source: Mattel
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.