Carriage return: 1902 State Landau made ready for Royals

ROYAL wedding enthusiasts will be hoping for a sunny day on 29 April, but clear skies would mean the most famous horse-drawn carriage will not be used.

The Glass Coach, Princess Diana's bridal carriage in 1981, will only be taken on the procession if the weather is bad. A sunny day will mean the open-topped 1902 State Landau carriage, above, will transport the couple from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

Martin Oates, the Senior Carriage Restorer who is responsible for the upkeep of all the vehicles, said the Glass Coach, built in 1881, is the one "everybody wants to see".

He explained how six carriages will be used on the big day, and there is a wet weather programme and a plan for dry weather. The 1902 State Landau was built by Hoopers for King Edward VII's Coronation.