Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Prince Charles and Camilla take a trip on London Underground to celebrate 150 years of the Tube

'I distinctly heard someone say oysters': Prince Charles takes a trip on London Underground to celebrate 150 years of the Tube

Charles and Camilla given travel card despite qualifying for Freedom Pass
Travelled one stop from Farringdon Station to Kings Cross

PUBLISHED: 11:47, 30 January 2013 | UPDATED: 19:01, 30 January 2013

If the future king and his wife thought they were getting a ‘traditional commuter experience’ yesterday, they were sadly mistaken.

To start with their tube was (unusually) clean, running on time – and had been helpfully cleared of all other travellers.

Still Charles, whose last experience as a London Underground passenger was 26 years ago when he and his late wife opened Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 4, appeared to be enjoying his journey immensely.

Fortunately for the heir to the throne and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, their train was (unusually) clean, running on time – and had been helpfully cleared of other commuters.

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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall today travelled on the Tube as part of the network's 150-year anniversary

The Prince of Wales and Camilla spoke with long-serving London Underground staff and engineering trainees

Charles and Camilla qualify for a Freedom Pass but they were given Oyster cards with £10 loaded onto them anyway

After finally figuring out how to use his Oyster card, Prince Charles made his way through the barriers at Farringdon Station

They also only had to ride for one stop – a four minute journey in all – and were dropped off and picked up at either end by their chauffeur-driven silver Bentley.

Still the giggling couple appeared to enjoy their jaunt to mark the 150th anniversary of the world-famous transport system immensely.

Details of the visit had been kept secret until the last minute, but astonished commuters soon crowded around as the couple arrived at Farringdon, one of the original stations built in 1863 and known as the 'birthplace of the tube', shortly after 10am.

Although both qualify for the city's over-60s 'Freedom Pass', they were presented with limited edition commemorative Oyster travel cards by staff which had been topped up with £10 credit for the £2.10 journey. The cards are expected to be retained by the Royal Collection and may be displayed in years to come.

It was clearly a novel experience for the bemused 64-year-old prince, who had to be shown by an underground executive how to swipe his card through the electronic ticket barrier.

VIDEO Charles and Camilla arrive at Farringdon Station by Tube

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There were members of the public on the platform at Farringdon but they were kept away from the carriage that would carry Charles and Camilla

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were given a tour of the impressive Kings Cross station

How does one eat that oyster? Prince Charles was given his own travel card for use on London's public transport

Perhaps wanting to get away from all the watching eyes, Charles and Camilla tried to get to Harry Potter's platform 9 and three quarters at Kings Cross

Camilla, however, was an occasional user of the tube in her pre-royal days and breezed through in his wake.

After a briefing about the history of the underground and the new £15 billion Crossrail project that will pass through Farringdon linking east and west London, the couple walked along the eastbound platform to catch their Metropolitan Line train.

Members of the public, however, were held back by police as the couple waited patiently for the 752 Wembley service to arrive, with Charles joking at waiting pressmen: 'Are you lot coming too?'

The royal train was distinctly different to those normally in service during the morning commute, however. One of the new S-stock British-made Bombardier trains slowly being rolled out across the network, it was clean, spacious and had air conditioning.

The train was also very much empty, having been brought directly from sidings in nearby Moorgate.

And although members of the public waiting at the station were permitted to board, police officers kept them well away from the heir to the throne and his wife, who were sitting in the first carriage surrounded by senior London Underground and Transport for London staff.

Camilla looks amused as she gets to grips with the trolley that would take her to the platform for the Hogwarts Express

Charles and Camilla travelled one stop from Farringdon to Kings Cross - a journey that usually takes a couple of minutes

Charles and Camilla enjoyed their trip on a brand new tube train

Camilla was invited to choose a seat (unlike sardine-like morning commuters who are lucky to get one at all) ushering her husband to join her. The pair laughed animatedly as they made themselves comfortable for their short journey to King's Cross.

Charles actually appeared disappointed when the trip ended. 'Just one stop?' he asked

'Here we are, darling,' Camilla said as the pair prepared to alight, walking past dozens of commuters reading their morning papers. More than one looked up at the commotion and then did a double take as the future king strode merrily by.

King's Cross has a family connection for Camilla as the original Victorian station was designed by her great-great-great uncle, Lewis Cubitt.

Staff appeared relieved that the journey had gone without a hitch. Greeting the prince and his party, Robin Gisby, Managing Director of Network Operations, asked: 'So you have delivered them safely?'

Although ostensibly at King's Cross to view an ongoing £500 million program of restoration, the first stop was just for fun: a visit to the station's Harry Potter attraction, Platform 9 ¾.

The royal couple also spoke with engineers about the Crossrail project

Charles and Camilla stopped at St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel for a punch made from a Victorian recipe

Pleased to meet you: Prince Charles popped into the former parcel yard at King's Cross Station which is now the UL's biggest pub where he met staff

The Prince and Duchess spoke to staff at the UK's biggest pub in King's Cross Station

Cheers: Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, enjoy a glass of punch made from a Victorian recipe at St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

The Royal couple enjoyed being entertained at St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel and were served punch by General Manager Kevin Kelly (left)

The Prince of Wales laughs as Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall signs the visitors' book with general manager Kevin Kelly (right) at St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, view the grand staircase at St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall study a model of the refurbished King's Cross rail station, during a visit to the terminal in central

In 1987 Prince Charles tried out one of the new carriages for the Underground while it was still at a workshop in Warwick

In 1979 Prince Charles took the Tube at the newly-opened Charing Cross station - his second trip on London Underground

In the JK Rowling books, student wizards push their trolleys through a wall to get to the mythical platform on their way to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

And as part of their refurbishment, Network Rail have re-created the scene on a brick wall close to the existing Platform 9, which is already a major attraction for busloads of fans eager to have their picture taken at the hallowed spot.

Despite being a Duchess, avid reader Camilla was no different and made a beeline for the attraction, posing happily for waiting photographers.

Her indulgent husband waited for a few moments before telling her: 'Come away, darling, you'll be there all day!'

Camilla did as she was told but was later delighted to be given a souvenir photograph of her visit, which members of the public can normally purchase for £8.

Walking towards the waiting Bentley, she told the Mail: 'My grandchildren will absolutely love this!'