Hearse & Flower carriage

Hearse

This hearse was used for the funeral of Emma, the Queen Mother (in 1934), Prince Hendrik (also in 1934), and Princess Wilhelmina (in 1962). It was decked out in black for the first and white for the latter two funerals.

The undercarriage of the hearse was originally part of a Coupé d’Orsay belonging to Queen Emma, made in 1871. The body of the carriage was replaced with wooden boards in 1920. A new superstructure and fresh upholstery were designed in 1993.

The hearse is painted grey. At the front is a one-man coach-box, and the superstructure stands on wooden boards. Both superstructure and box are upholstered in purple cloth trimmed with silver thread. The roof is embellished with white ostrich plumes at each corner, and is surmounted by the gilded royal crown that once graced the Glass Carriage.

Flower carriage

The flower carriage was in almost daily use until 1994 as a brake to exercise coach-horses in The Hague. When it was made is not known. In 1995 the court had it converted into a flower carriage for use at royal funerals.

The two-man coach-box is upholstered in black leatherette. The body, the undercarriage and wheels are painted grey.

Mounted on the carriage is a pyramid structure upholstered in purple fabric. It is draped on three sides with a purple cloth edged with silver. Seven chrome stands are arranged behind and on either side of the structure, linked by a chrome chain, from which the floral wreaths are hung.