In a symbolic effort to modernize the British monarchy and cut spending, King Charles III has pulled the brake on the 156-year-old Royal Train tradition, announcing it will be decommissioned by 2027.
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This historic decision ends a transportation legacy that dates back to Queen Victoria while raising questions about the balance between tradition and fiscal responsibility in today’s royal family.
The Royal Train, which has served the British monarchy since 1840, has become increasingly expensive to maintain and requires significant updates to operate on modern railway networks.
Recent royal accounts revealed the train was used only twice in the past year, with one journey costing taxpayers over £44,000 – a price tag difficult to justify in today’s economic climate.
James Chalmers, the palace official overseeing the King’s financial affairs, explained the decision: “The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved. But in moving forward we must not be bound by the past.”
The nine-carriage train, which received its last update in the mid-1980s, will be replaced by two new fuel-efficient helicopters.
The Royal Family will also continue using regular train services for official travel.
The decision comes as part of what Buckingham Palace describes as a “drive to ensure we deliver value for money” at a time when many British citizens are facing economic hardships.
Before its final retirement, the iconic Royal Train will embark on a farewell tour around the United Kingdom and may eventually be put on public display, preserving this piece of British heritage for future generations.
The train has been a significant part of royal history, especially during Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee celebrations.
The total cost of royal travel reached £4.7 million last year, marking a £500,000 increase from the previous year.
The most expensive journey was the King and Queen’s trip to Australia and Samoa, which cost taxpayers approximately £400,000.
Meanwhile, the Sovereign Grant remains at £86.3 million but will rise to £132.1 million for 2025-26 to complete the ongoing Buckingham Palace renovations.
“Just as so many parts of the royal household’s work have been modernised and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells as we seek to be disciplined and forward in our allocation of funding,” Chalmers added, highlighting the King’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
While some critics, including the anti-monarchy group Republic, have called royal spending a “scandalous abuse of public money,” defenders point to the monarchy’s role in representing Britain globally.
The royal family conducted over 1,900 engagements last year and hosted nearly 94,000 guests at 828 royal events, demonstrating their ongoing service to the nation.
Craig Prescott, a royal expert, emphasized the monarchy’s value: “It’s something that puts Britain on the world stage in a way that few other things do. It’s one of those things that people think about when they think about Britain.”
Royal train will end 156 years of service as King Charles III seeks to economizehttps://t.co/aaZv47oFwk pic.twitter.com/adjc7Er5EE
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 2, 2025
King Charles III continues to implement his vision for a slimmed-down, more efficient monarchy that can maintain its traditions while adapting to modern realities.
The retirement of the Royal Train represents just one part of his broader strategy to ensure the British monarchy remains relevant and financially sustainable in the 21st century, even as it means saying goodbye to beloved traditions.
