What is the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage?

Royal Navy SAILORS prepare for a key role in the Queen’s funeral.

You are responsible for towing the Royal Navy hearse that will take Her Majesty’s coffin.

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What is the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage?

The Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage hearse is used to carry the coffin of deceased monarchs and leaders.

It was used in funeral processions for Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten.

Sailors in the Royal Navy traditionally pull the carriage.

When not in use it is stored on HMS Excelle at Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire.

It is a converted Ordnance, BL, 12 pdr 6 cwt, MK II, gun carriage and weighs around 2.5 tons.

It was made by Vickers, Sons and Maxim in 1896 and kept at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

After a gun carriage was used during the funeral of Queen Victoria’s funeral, she asked for the same for her death.

The car was never actively used but kept as part of a reserve.

Will the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage attend the Queen’s funeral?

The Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage is used at the Queen’s funeral.

Royal Navy sailors will tow the gun carriage two miles through the streets of London.

It has been a tradition for seafarers to fulfill this duty since the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

What are the duties of the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage?

About 98 sailors will pull the ceremonial carriage, while another 40 sailors will march behind the vehicle as brakemen.

More than 1,000 Royal Navy personnel will be in London for the funerals.

The bands of HM Royal Marines, marching contingents of Seafarers and Royal Marines, musicians, stewards and staff lining the procession route will stand proud between the Army and the Royal Air Force.

Royal Navy staff took part in rehearsals for the funeral on HMS Collingwood, Fareham in Hampshire this week.