The King is bidding the ‘fondest of farewells’ to the royal train after approving its decommissioning following decades of service.
The train was loved by the late Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family, who will soon rely on two new helicopters when the train is officially sent to be decommissioned in 2027.
The King is said to have fond memories of the train, which features a carriage created for Charles in the mid-1980s, which he still uses now that he is King.
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: ‘The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved.
‘Just as so many parts of the royal household’s work have been modernised and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too, the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding.’
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The royal train was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh and was decorated and furnished to meet the needs of senior royals.
In 2020, William and Kate made a 1,250-mile train journey over three days to thank key and frontline workers and communities for their efforts during the pandemic.
Here’s all to know about the iconic train.
What is the royal train?
The first version of a royal train was commissioned by Queen Victoria all the way back in 1869. The monarch was a big proponent of rail travel.
She famously decorated her train carriages in 23-carat gold and blue silk, now on display in the National Railway Museum in York.
In 1902, a new version was made by Edward VII, offering very modern upgrades, including the first ever bath installed on a train.
The current train was a set upgraded in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee.
Monarchs often used the train to travel safely throughout the UK, but the cost of rail travel is much more than a plane, meaning it’s not as feasible anymore to keep up the costs.
What does it look like inside?
Today, the interior has a royal flair, but hasn’t been upgraded in quite a few years, making it a bit outdated.
The photo above was taken in 2010 of the dining room onboard.
Other features include – a bathtub, which Queen Elizabeth would use when the train conductor stopped the train, to avoid sloshing.
It also features sleeper carriages and lounge carriages, which were often used by the late Queen and Prince Philip, who often travelled around the UK on the train.
What other cuts is the monarchy making?
The royals have made bids to cut costs in recent years, and the train’s decommissioning is just one of them.
One journey from Gloucestershire to Staffordshire and then London – over two days – cost just £44,000 on the train.
The £86.3 million Sovereign Grant comprises £51.8 million for the core elements like travel and payroll costs and £34.5 million to fund the Buckingham Palace Reservicing Programme.
The royals are making some green initiatives, including the conversion of the first of two official Bentleys to run on bio-fuel, with the second transitioning this year.
They will also use more sustainable aviation fuel for royal flights, including for helicopter travel, and 84% of royal household waste is now recycled.
But upgrades which cost a pretty penny are also underway. State banquets will move to Windsor Castle until 2027 so the Buckingham Palace ballroom can be renovated, at an expected cost of £100 million.
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