What is the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage?

SAILORS from the Royal Navy are preparing for a key role in the Queen's funeral.

They are responsible for pulling the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage which will hold Her Majesty's coffin.

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What is the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage?

The Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage is used to bear the coffin of monarchs and leaders who have died.

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

Sailors from the Royal Navy traditionally pull the gun carriage.

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

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

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

After a gun carriage was used during the funeral of Queen Victoria's funeral, she requested the same for when she died.

The carriage never saw active service but was kept as a part of a reserve.

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

The Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage will be used in the Queen's funeral proceedings.

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

It has been a tradition for sailors to perform this duty since Queen Victoria's death in 1901.

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

Around 98 sailors will pull the ceremonial carriage while another 40 sailors will march behind the vehicle acting as brakes.

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

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The Bands of HM Royal Marines, marching contingents of sailors and Royal Marines, musicians, stewards are personnel lining the procession route will proudly stand among the Army and Royal Air Force.

Royal Navy personnel have been taking part in rehearsals for the funeral at HMS Collingwood, Fareham in Hampshire, this week.