At least four carriages were discovered by Culture Ministry conservators working at the former royal estate of Tatoi in northern Athens, according to the Friends of Tatoi Society, a citizens’ group that supports the preservation of the estate.

One of the carriages is the closed one used during the wedding of Queen Sophia of Spain and King Juan Carlos in Athens in 1962.

“Until now, no one was sure of their whereabouts or state,” the group said in a press release, adding that it has received information that the carriages are in good condition.

This development will boost the creation of a Museum of Royal Carriages and Cars in Tatoi to exhibit the finds, the group says, adding that the first preservation efforts are expected to start soon.

The carriage used for the Spanish royal wedding was bought by King George I around 1871; it originally belonged to Prince Henri, Count of Chambord. 

The carriage was modified by painting the coats of arms of the Greek dynasty over the French ones.

Some 50,000 objects and heirlooms from the estate were documented and stored between 2004 and 2012, although they cannot yet be seen by the public. 

This article was first published by ekathimerini.com