Landau (carriage)

A landau, drawn by a pair or four-in-hand, is one of several kinds of vis-à-vis, a social carriage with facing seats over a dropped footwell (illustration), which was perfected by the mid-19th century in the form of a swept base that flowed in a single curve.

[4][5] The landau's centre section might contain a fixed full-height glazed door, or more usually a low half-door.

Landaus used as state coaches were often constructed with a removable driver's seat so they could be guided by postilion (riders) instead of a coachman.

[7]: 103 The monarch of Canada has a state landau available in Ottawa for ceremonial processions from Rideau Hall to Parliament Hill.

For the King's Plate in Toronto, the monarch and the royal family have a private landau owned by the Ontario Jockey Club and gift from E.P.

A number of horse-drawn carriages, known in Japan as zagyoshiki, are maintained by the Imperial household and regularly used when new ambassadors present their credentials to the emperor as well as for royal weddings and coronations.

The Royal Mews also retains a miniature landau made for the children of George V and designed to be pulled by ponies.

The ambassadors are collected from the embassy or residence by a state landau from the Royal Mews, and escorted by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, who is based at St James's Palace.