King Charles III is bidding farewell to a piece of royal history. He has decided to retire the Royal Train, which has served the monarchy for over 150 years. This move is part of his plan to update the royal household and manage finances more carefully.
The King’s decision, made on July 1, 2025, means the Royal Train will stop operating by 2027. James Chalmers, who looks after the King’s personal money, shared the news. He spoke during the annual report on the British royal family’s income and spending. Chalmers mentioned that Britain should look forward, not hold onto the past. He called the train a source of “beloved memories.” But he stressed it was time for a “graceful farewell” and “careful budgeting.”
The Royal Train first ran in 1869, during Queen Victoria’s time. It became a powerful symbol of the monarchy’s enduring presence. The train has nine special carriages. Regular commercial train engines pull them. Each carriage was built to be grand, suitable for royal trips across the United Kingdom.
The train has carried royals for many important events. This includes Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th and 60th years on the throne. Its last major upgrade happened in the 1980s.
However, the train’s use has dropped sharply. Accounts show it was used only twice in 2024. These trips included journeys from Gloucestershire to Staffordshire and London. The two-day travel cost a hefty 44,000 British pounds, or about 2.02 million Thai baht. This high cost raised questions about how expensive it was to keep running.
Many royal family members already travel on public transport. Queen Elizabeth II sometimes used regular trains for duties. Prince William and Princess Catherine have also done so. This shows their effort to be more like ordinary people. Prince Harry is often seen on express trains between London, Birmingham, and other northern cities. He travels without any special closed-off sections. King Charles III himself once took the Eurostar train to France for President Mitterrand’s funeral. He has also used public trains within the UK.
Even with its upcoming retirement, the Royal Train will have a final tour. It will travel around the United Kingdom for public display. After that, it will become a permanent public exhibit.
The annual financial report also shared details about the royal family’s money. They received 86.3 million British pounds (about 3,967 million Thai baht) from the government in 2024-2025. A large part of this, 34.5 million pounds (about 1,587 million Thai baht), is for a 10-year project. This money will help fix up Buckingham Palace.
King Charles III wants to make the royal court smaller and more modern. He aims to cut costs and update the monarchy’s role. In the past year, the royal family held 1,900 public events at home and abroad. More than 93,000 people visited royal homes. The King also visited Australia and Samoa. He welcomed leaders from Japan and Qatar as royal guests.