How much Donald Trump’s golden carriage ride in London would cost

The cost of President Donald Trump's travels to his golf courses have dominated headlines, and the latest travel bill could reach £7.5 million GBP.

His weekends and evenings spent at Trump properties mean the commander in chief (and often his family) are zipping up and down the US eastern seaboard frequently.

Until now the cost of his travelling operation has fallen on the American taxpayers - to the tune of $11.3 million (USD) in one month alone.

However, for his state visit to the UK, scheduled for October 2017, the Metropolitan Police expect the British public to foot the bill for a costly and 'monster' size security operation.

In particular the White House has opted for the traditional golden carriage procession down the Mall with Her Majesty.

Speaker of the Commons John Bercow has already attempted to block an address to both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. Despite the fact his predecessor President Barack Obama has spoken in this house, as well as other international figures such as Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Pope Benedict XVI, and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, in the ratings-obsessed US administration, this point has been little contested.

But the golden carriage is must have.

When President Obama made his state visit to the UK in 2011 he opted to use a more easily defendable armoured and bullet proof car.

This vehicle is regularly used by the President, and due to it's impressive power and thick armour is known as 'the Beast'.

According to the Evening Standard, the former head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the force had 'some concerns already' and he 'did not dispute' the cost could be as much as £7.5 million (GBP).

Sir Bernard drew this figure in comparison with the scale and cost of the operation to secure the G20 summit in London, 2009.

In essence, it's one leader for the price of twenty - a cost that could be reduced if the President were to drop insistence on the Cinderella coach.

For comparison, according to the BBC President George W. Bush' visit in 2003 cost £4.1 million (GPB).

While the carriage used for state occasions contains security features such as bullet proof glass, a source told the Times:

In particular it is very flimsy...It would not be able to put up much resistance in the face of a rocket propelled grenade or high powered ammunition.

The Gold State Coach, used for coronations and often for state visits, was commissioned in over two and a half centuries ago in 1760 by Queen Elizabeth's great-great-great-grandfather His Majesty King George III.

So although not the latest technology, it was used most recently for the state visit of Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos in 2016.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is a newer vehicle, completed in 2010 and first used for the State Opening of Parliament in 2014.

HT The Times, BBC, Evening Standard

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