After almost two centuries of royal trips, the historic British monarchy train will bow in 2026. This decision marks a symbolic turning point in the desire to modernize the royal family.
It is a page in British history that turns. The “royal train”, used since Almost 200 years by the monarchy will be put out of service from 2026. The announcement, made on June 30, 2025 by James Chalmers, head of royal finances, marks the end of such a symbolic or expensive tradition. The objective? Apply a ” tax discipline Within the royal family, while public expectations in terms of transparency and sobriety are constantly growing.
This train of nine wagons is considered today too expensive to maintain. “” Just like so many aspects of the royal family work have been modernized to reflect the world of today, the time has come to make our warmest farewells on the royal train “Said Chalmers. He also said that two helicopters will remain available to the family to ensure certain trips.
A legacy of Queen Victoria
The “royal train” is much more than a simple means of transport. It was a symbol of the union between tradition and technology as well as the illustration of the prestige of the British monarchy through generations. Indeed, L‘History of this train began in 1842, with a trip by Queen Victoria, the first sovereign to have had a specially chartered train. Since then, this means of transport has been used for countless official tours, ceremonies and diplomatic visits.
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More recently, in 2020, Prince William and Kate Middleton had carried out a 2,000 km tour on the royal train to thank the workers during the Cavid-19 pandemic. The train had also been envisaged to transport the coffin of the kidney Elisabeth II from Scotland after his death in 2022, before the project was abandoned for security reasons.
A decision in a climate of mistrust
If the decision to abandon this train is a budgetary concern, it also intervenes in a context of growing distrust towards the privileges granted to the monarchy. A survey carried out by British media in 2024 In particular revealed that King Charles III and Prince William benefited from public funding while being exempt from certain taxes. Which caused a strong reaction in public opinion.
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The cost of the monarchy is more than ever scrutinized. The sovereign allowance, which gives official obligations and the maintenance of royal residences, will reach 132 million pounds or 154 million euros for the fiscal year which ends in 2026. Namely a 50% increase compared to the previous year. A contrast that annoys, especially since the cost of the royal train is no longer justifiable at a time when a budgetary economy is required in all public sectors.
The end of a myth?
The abandonment of the “royal train” is not just a logistical or financial decision. It is also A highly symbolic choice. It is a way for the monarchy to display a desire for adaptation, modernization and alignment with the requirements of the British people. But it is also a break with its rolling lounges and its protocol stops. The “royal train” was dreaming and fascinated. He embodied a certain idea of British greatness but This story now belongs to the past.
By pulling the emergency brake on this part of its inheritance, the royal family tries a turn: to preserve its legitimacy while cutting with its most ostentatious signs.
