King Charles Retires Iconic Royal Train Amid Rising Royal Household Costs to Taxpayers…Full details

King Charles Retires Iconic Royal Train Amid Rising Royal Household Costs to Taxpayers…Full details

The King will bid the “fondest of farewells” to the Royal Train after approving its decommissioning next year as the royals’ cost to the taxpayer has been revealed

The King is to axe the late Queen Elizabeth’s beloved Royal Train after decades of service in an attempt to save cash towards the multimillion refit of Buckingham Palace. The locomotive steam train, comprising of nine claret liveried sleeper, dining and lounge carriages, was the Queen’s favourite mode of transport throughout her reign.
The current train came into service for the late monarch’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, pulled by one of two locomotives which use eco-conscious biofuel made from vegetable oil waste. Spiralling costs of the aging fleet – including two trips last year which cost a combined £78,000 – has led King Charles to bid the “fondest of farewells” after approving its decommissioning for next year.

The royals spent a total of £2.7million last year on travel by private jet, helicopters and rail, according to the annual royal accounts published today. One trip by the King and Queen to Australia and Samoa last October cost a staggering £400,000.

As the royal train reaches the end of the line, ahead of the exorbitant maintenance contract ending in early 2027, accounts show Charles and other members of the royal family will rely on two new helicopters to get around – although palace aides stressed trains and other transport will be used.

The Sovereign Grant, which pays for the royal family’s official duties and the upkeep of royal palaces, is met from public funds in exchange for the King’s surrender of the revenue from the Crown Estate, in exchange for 12 per cent back to run their affairs including travel, engagements at home and abroad and welcoming tens of thousands of people to the royal palaces.

For the accounts last year, the royals cost the taxpayer £86.3 million for a fourth consecutive year. But record offshore wind farm profits have seen the Crown Estate net profits for the last financial year and hit £1.1 billion – meaning a record breaking Sovereign Grant of £132million will be handed out next year and the year after.