King Charles III rides in a royal carriage on the fifth day of the Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in England, Saturday, June 21, 2025. AP
The Royal Train, a symbol of British royalty since 1869, will soon stop running. King Charles III has decided to retire the historic train to save money and keep up with modern times. It would cost too much to upgrade the old train to today’s rail standards.
A palace spokesperson, James Chalmers, explained the decision by saying, “We must not be bound by the past.” He added that the royal household wants to stay practical and modern in how it spends money. The train will be out of service before its current maintenance contract ends in 2027.
A Royal Legacy
The Royal Train isn’t just one train—it’s made up of nine carriages that can be attached to regular engines. Queen Victoria first used a special train in 1869, and since then, it has carried many royal figures across the country.
Ending this tradition is part of a bigger plan by King Charles to cut costs and slim down the monarchy. The palace announced the decision during its yearly update on royal spending.
Royal Funding Breakdown
The royal family will continue to receive £86.3 million (around $118 million) from public funds through March 2026. This includes £34.5 million for updating Buckingham Palace.
This money comes from something called the Sovereign Grant. The grant gives 12% of the profits from Crown Estate properties to fund royal duties. The Crown Estate includes valuable lands and buildings owned by the monarch but managed professionally.
Although the grant amount hasn’t gone up in four years, inflation has reduced its real value. Palace officials said if it had risen with inflation, the amount would now be closer to £106 million.
Extra Earnings Help
Apart from the grant, the royals earned another £21.5 million from other properties not part of the Crown Estate. This increase came mostly from a record number of tourists visiting Buckingham Palace and its newly renovated East Wing.
Is It Worth the Cost?
There’s always public debate about whether royal spending is justified. But many experts believe the monarchy gives Britain something special.
A law expert, Craig Prescott, said, “It puts Britain on the world stage.” He pointed to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and King Charles’ coronation as major events watched worldwide. He believes the monarchy brings global attention and pride to the country.
Royals Stay Busy
In the past year, King Charles visited Australia and attended a global leaders’ meeting in Samoa. The royals also joined big events like the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and V-E Day. They hosted world leaders from Japan and Qatar and made 1,900 public appearances. Over 93,000 guests came to 828 palace events.
