State hearse

The state hearse was designed by Jaguar Land Rover in collaboration with the Royal Household. The hearse is based on a Jaguar XJ (X351) saloon. Its conversion from the standard model was made by Wilcox Limousines. The hearse has large side and back windows and a glass roof to maximise the coffin's visibility to onlookers. The design of the car is unique. The hearse has royal claret coloured paint with red pinstripe details, which matches other vehicles operated by the Royal Mews. and her parents' mascot (depicting Britannia atop a globe) on 19 September. Queen Elizabeth II approved the final plans for the design of the hearse. Since the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent in 2025, the cypher has been replaced by the heraldic badge of the royal family. == Use ==

The state hearse was first used on 13 September 2022 to transport the coffin of Elizabeth II from RAF Northolt to Buckingham Palace. It was used again on 15 and 16 September 2025 to transport the coffin of Katharine, Duchess of Kent from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral, the day ahead of the Requiem Mass and from Westminster Cathedral to the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, after the Requiem Mass. == Predecessors ==

Previous royal hearses have included a Jaguar XJ used for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and a custom built open top Land Rover Defender for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ==See also==