We may be used to seeing the Royal Family in carriage processions during public appearances, atop horses during official parades or even - in Prince William's case - landing in helicopters, but they do have more regular modes of transport, too. Off-duty, the family have their own cars and frequently drive themselves around (the Prince and Princess of Wales famously do the school run themselves) for example, but there's also one very special royal vehicle we don't often hear about: the Royal Train.
While the Royal Train isn't used on a daily basis, it's an incredibly useful mode of transport the family have kept for decades, which was often used by the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip. In 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales (then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) used the Royal Train to travel safely across the country during the pandemic, visiting key workers in different communities to thank them for their efforts. Now, former royal butler Grant Harrold has revealed what the impressive vehicle is really like inside.
Grant worked for the Royal Family between 2004 and 2011 and said he boarded the train 'many times when [he] worked as a butler' for the King. Grant says the Royal Train has a 'level of wonder and amazement' that meant people would be lined up waiting to see it pass platforms across the country. Speaking via Heart Bingo, Grant explains the train was well equipped for overnight stays (although the royals still 'always brought an overnight bag') and describes the vehicle as 'a mini hotel on rails'. Incredibly, he says 'it also had a gift shop, which was interesting.'
While there may be an onboard shop much like the cross-country trains many of us take regularly, dining options onboard are a step above the sandwich meal deals we might be familiar with. 'They would always have chefs and meals onboard, so it was like a hotel,' says Grant. 'The meals that were served included breakfast, lunch and dinner, depending on the time of day you were travelling. Breakfast was continental and dinners included meats and fishes.' He describes the quality as akin to what 'you’d expect at a five star hotel'.
As well as being a convenient (and luxurious!) way to travel around the country, the train also offers space for the Royal Family to catch up on some work on route. 'I know the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also worked on the royal train too. It was more than a mode of transport. It was a popular way to travel and do work,' says Grant. 'The King and Prince William have also been photographed doing work on the train so they used the journey to do lots of jobs.'
On trips that he accompanied the now King - then Prince Charles - Grant adds that he and Queen 'Camilla were both good and comfortable during train journeys.' The Royal Train is expected to be decommissioned in 2027 as a cost-saving measure.
