The Royal Train, beloved icon of the British monarchy, will soon cease to run. This decision is especially notable, as the international maintenance contract ends in early 2027. This nine-carriage royal train has historically been an essential transport tool for the British royals for decades. Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh regularly made use of it when they traveled. Its decommissioning — first announced with the annual royal accounts on Monday — marks an end of an era in royal travel, and a new era.
Queen Elizabeth II has a long history with the Royal Train, having worked at her desk onboard during journeys, including one in May 2002. The train became famous for its lavish decoration and luxurious furniture, designed to serve the exacting standards of senior royals. This tradition has been pivotal to our major family milestones. We as a family value our visits home for Christmas to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.
In December 1961, Queen Elizabeth II, along with King Charles and Prince Andrew, boarded the Royal Train for one such journey. Over the years, it has helped make many a royal pilgrimage possible. Incredibly, in 2020, Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, took one themselves—an amazing 1,250-mile trip.
For Meghan Markle, her Royal Train ordeal occurred during her first and only official trip alongside Queen Elizabeth II in 2018. The two men exchanged much laughter, especially during the ceremonial opening of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge. Thinking back on their relationship, Markle remembered how they instantly connected on a personal level.
“She returned from the trip glowing. ‘The Queen and I really bonded! We talked about how much I wanted to be a mom and she told me the best way to induce labour was a good bumpy car ride! I told her I’d remember that when the time came.” – Meghan Markle
The Royal Train has, perhaps unsurprisingly, been most fondly characterised for its unifying power to bring estranged family members back together again. Prince Harry admitted that Meghan was anxious leading up to her visit. She formed an immediate connection with the Queen through their mutual passion for dogs.
“Days later Meg went off on her first royal trip with Granny. She was nervous, but they got on famously. They also bonded over their love of dogs,” – Prince Harry
The Royal Train is coming to a close. Two new helicopters will replace it, adding a new and decidedly modern element to royal travel. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, acknowledged the train’s historical significance. Like any visionary, he expressed the dire need for change.
“The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved. But in moving forward we must not be bound by the past.” – James Chalmers
