It's been a long and controversial journey from a Manly shed to Buckingham Palace but, finally, Australian Jim Frecklington will see the Queen ride in his golden carriage.
Her Majesty on Wednesday will travel to the opening of parliament in the new state coach which took Mr Frecklington a decade to build.
The NSW-born carriage maker started construction after the Sydney Olympics.
It was originally intended as an 80th birthday present for the Queen in 2006 but by 2012 was still sitting in his Manly workshop.
Former Prime Minister John Howard's government initially contributed $250,000 to the build.
But then came the delays - and questions over why taxpayers were footing any part of the bill.
Mr Frecklington in 2012 wrote to Labor PM Julia Gillard asking for another $5 million to finish the coach and transport it to England. The request was rejected.
But in March this year Buckingham Palace confirmed the coach had nevertheless reached London.
It travelled down The Mall on Tuesday minus the Queen in a dummy run ahead of Wednesday's big event.
"It will be a very special day to see this coach being used," Mr Frecklington, who's travelled to London, said.
"This new coach will give me a lot of pleasure and also give a lot of Australian and British people pleasure because there are so many people, especially living here in Britain, who have so much connection with it."
Fragments of Henry VIII's warship the Mary Rose, Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree and the stone of destiny are just some of the priceless artefacts incorporated into the bodywork of the carriage.
The handrails inside what's now called the Diamond Jubilee state coach are made from Royal Yacht Britannia timber.
A wooden crown covered in gold leaf, which forms the centrepiece of the roof's decorations, was carved from oak from Nelson's flagship HMS Victory.
Many of the historical items are pieces of wood which have been fashioned into small varnished squares used to decorate the interior walls and door panels.
Mr Frecklington said the present Queen "will go down in history as one of the greatest monarchs that's ever lived and I thought something very special - a tangible item - should be produced".
It's only the second state coach to be built in more than 100 years.
Mr Frecklington used to work for the Royal Household looking after the Queen's show horses and helped build the Queen's Australian state coach.
It marked the bicentenary of Australia in 1988 and was the first state carriage to be constructed since 1902.
The Diamond Jubilee carriage has been acquired by the Royal Collection Trust almost entirely with money from a private donation.
Around 400 books of gold leaf were used to decorate the vehicle which, in a departure from tradition, has a body and wheels made from aluminium.
The interior is upholstered in pastel gold-coloured silk brocade.
It features mod-cons, with six hydraulic stabilisers insuring a smooth ride, as well as electric windows and heaters.
Mr Frecklington's labour of love, which is almost 5.5 metres long, weighs over three tonnes and is drawn by six horses.
The Diamond Jubilee state coach will go on display at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace from Sunday.
Share
