Royal Wedding preview at the Palace's Mews for Kate Middleton and Prince William's big day

Add to My Stories Continuing our occasional series on UK locations perfect for a weekend day out, Mark Hughes-Morgan explains the equine delights of the Royal Mews. It's just next to Buckingham Palace, you know...

I thought the Grand National was weeks ago...

It was.

So why are we returning to the stables?

This is not any old stables. This is the Royal Mews, where the horses for all major royal occasions are stabled including those to be used for the wedding of William and Kate. And apart from next weekend, anyone can visit throughout most of the year.

Royal Wedding special: Prince Charles and Princess Diana rode in the State Landau

Have you noticed it's next door to Buckingham Palace?

Yes, amazing coincidence, that. Youd almost think they planned it back in the 1820s, when the Palace was redesigned for George IV.The Mews, based around this handsome quadrangle, houses horses and carriages (and, these days, cars), including the open-topped State Landau in which Charles and Diana returned from St Pauls the same one that will be used for next weeks wedding.

This one is a bit bling

That is the Gold State Coach, designed for George III, which is the most important carriage here which is why it gets its own coach house. The story is that it took so long to build, with all its elaborate gold-leaf decoration, that it wasnt ready either for his coronation or his wedding. It was first used in 1762 at The State Opening of Parliament.It weighs four tonnes, and when they want to shift it they need to allow two days to get it out (rather as they had to do with the humorously corpulent George III himself).

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All the Queen's horses: The stables are located right next door to Buckingham Palace

Why don't they use this see-through one for the Royal Wedding?

It's a bit more fairytale-princess. The Glass Coach will apparently be used if the weather is a bit orf (sorry, off) which doesnt seem likely you may have seen pictures of Sir Winston Churchill doing his V for Victory in it on the way back from the 1953 Coronation.

Is this all the horses?

Well, they are not all here all the time they might be out working, exercising, or off for a break in the country.They are mostly Cleveland bays and Windsor greys and the Queen names all of the horses herself. They are often named after places she has visited: Lahore, Sydney, Melbourne, Vienna...

Set of Eastenders?

I don't think that would work, do you?

Can I have a lesson in the riding school?

Thatis for the horses to ensure theyre used to the rigorous demands of their royal role. During training, theyll often have loud noises playedat them to get them used to noisy London.

I love the 'Blacksmith Experience'

This is a working stables, not some Disney reconstruction. The staff live here and work here, and are on hand 365 days a year.

OK, no need to get on your high you-know-what. Now, what shall we hang from the back of the State Landau - tin cans or balloons?

That's not the only thing that will hang at this rate.The Royal Mews is open year-round, except for Christmas, New Year and state occasions. Ticket prices: adults, 8; over-60s and students, 7.25; under-17s, 5; under-fives, free; families (two adults, three under-17s), 21.25.Tickets combining entry to the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace and the Queens Gallery, are also available. For more information, go to www.royalcollection.org.uk or call 020 7766 7302.