King Charles' royal carriage horses take spotlight ahead of State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament is set to begin as the horses in The Royal Mews have taken their spot.

​As per the latest video posted on the official Instagram account for royal updates run by the handle name "theroyalfamily," horses responsible for pulling royal carriages are ready for their duty on the ceremonial event to mark the start of the 2026 parliamentary year.

​Horses named Runnymede, Echo, Maple, Newark, and Knightsbridge are specifically mentioned as they will pull King Charles' carriage to the Palace of Westminster.

​In the video, horses are shown practicing on the grounds of Windsor Castle as the caption reads, "The horses in The Royal Mews have been practicing and preparing for today's State Opening of Parliament.

​"It is a tradition for The King and Queen travel to the Palace of Westminster in a State Coach, escorted by the Household Cavalry. The Imperial State Crown and Regalia travels in front of The King in a carriage of its own."

​The palace further revealed, "Runnymede, Echo, Maple, Newark and Knightsbridge are just some of the horses taking part today. Cared for by The Royal Mews, they can usually be found enjoying the grounds of Windsor!"

​For the State Opening of Parliament, King Charles will deliver a speech outlining the government's agenda for the year 2026.