FILE – Queen Elizabeth II stepped off the Royal Train to greet local officials during a 2018 visit, with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at her side. Buckingham Palace recently announced the train will be decommissioned by 2027.
The Royal Train, a rolling symbol of British monarchy for more than 150 years, is being retired.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III has decided to decommission the train—actually a suite of royal railcars—before the current maintenance contract expires in 2027, saying the costs to operate and upgrade the train can no longer be justified. The decision reflects the king’s push to streamline royal spending and modernize traditions as part of a “forward-looking” monarchy.
Why is King Charles retiring the Royal Train?
The backstory:
The Royal Train’s origins date back to 1869, when Queen Victoria commissioned special coaches for her travels. Over time, it evolved into a fleet of eight to nine railcars that could be attached to commercial locomotives, offering monarchs a secure and comfortable way to travel across Britain.
But upkeep has become expensive, and adapting the train for modern rail networks would require a significant investment.
“In moving forwards, we must not be bound by the past,’’ said James Chalmers, the palace official overseeing royal finances. “The time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding.’’
What does this mean for royal spending and travel?
Dig deeper:
The Royal Train’s retirement is part of a broader effort by Charles to modernize and cut costs:
- The royal family will receive £86.3 million ($118 million) in public funding for 2025–2026.
- That includes £34.5 million earmarked for continued renovations at Buckingham Palace.
- The Sovereign Grant, which funds official duties, remains unchanged for the fourth year in a row.
Charles has pledged to maintain a more streamlined monarchy, reducing spending where possible while still carrying out ceremonial duties. Palace officials noted that inflation has eroded the value of the Sovereign Grant over time.
What’s the public reaction to royal spending?
The other side:
While the monarchy’s finances remain a topic of public scrutiny, some experts argue the institution still delivers soft power and global attention that outweighs its annual cost.
Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, told the Associated Press that royal events like Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and King Charles’s coronation have been unmatched in their international reach.
“It’s something that puts Britain on the world stage in a way that few other things do,’’ Prescott said. “It’s one of those things that people think about when they think about Britain.’’
How active has the royal family been in the past year?
By the numbers:
Despite King Charles’s scaled-back approach, the monarchy has remained active:
- The royals made 1,900 public appearances in the U.K. and abroad.
- About 93,000 guests attended 828 official events at royal residences.
- Charles traveled to Australia and presided over the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
- The family marked the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and V-E Day, and hosted state visits from leaders of Japan and Qatar.
The Source: This report is based on coverage from the Associated Press, which attended Buckingham Palace’s 2025 royal finance briefing. Quotes and financial data were provided by palace officials. Additional historical context about the Royal Train and public funding was included in the AP’s original reporting.