Charles and Camilla take the Tube

By TONY JONES
Published on 31/01/2013 01:40

IT IS a daily chore for millions of London commuters, but for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall yesterday brought their first joint trip using the Underground.

Charles and Camilla celebrated the 150th anniversary of the transport network by touring a small part of it and visiting tations.

They Prince and Duchess travelled by Tube for a few minutes, riding for just one stop from Farringdon to King’s Cross on a Metropolitan Line train.

Charles last used the Tube network in 1986 when he and the Princess of Wales travelled to Heathrow airport using the underground to open Terminal 4. Camilla is thought to have used the Underground in the past.

The royal couple were given specially designed Oyster cards celebrating the Tube’s anniversary and used the pre-paid smartcards to swipe their way through the barriers at Farringdon.

They both qualify for a Freedom Pass for the over-60s, but their Oyster cards had £10 credit for the journey.

The cards are expected to be retained by the Royal Collection.

In their carriage were senior London Underground and Transport for London staff, and Charles and Camilla sat next to each other on the train bound for Uxbridge in west London while most of their hosts stood.

The Prince and Duchess travelled along the route of the Underground’s first line, which opened on 9 January, 1863, and ran services between Paddington and Farringdon.

A brand-new train was used for the royal journey, one of London Underground’s new S-Stock trains.