A former butler is sharing what it was really like to travel by train with the Royal Family, and according to him, it felt like a “mini hotel.”
Grant Harrold, who worked at Highgrove between 2004 and 2011, said he was often on the road with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Speaking with Heart Bingo Online, Harrold revealed some details about the royal train, including what they cooked on board.
‘It was like a hotel’
“I used to go on the royal train many times when I worked as a butler for Charles,” Harrold recalled.
He explained that the train was designed to feel like a home away from home whenever the family stayed overnight.
“The senior royals would be going on somewhere else so the train would be equipped for an overnight stay. It also had a gift shop which was interesting.”
According to Harrold, the service on board made it feel less like a train ride and more like staying at a hotel. “It was all very self-quipped but they always brought an overnight bag,” he said.
‘Wonder and amazement’
When it came to food, Harrold said there were full meals available throughout the day. “The meals that were served included breakfast, lunch and dinner, depending on the time of day you were traveling.”
“Breakfast was continental and dinners included meats and fishes, foods you’d expect at a five star hotel,” he added.
Harrold also recalled how excited people would get whenever the train arrived at a station. “We used to go into each platform and people would be waiting to see the train. It had that level of wonder and amazement.”
‘Popular way to travel’
Harrold said Charles and Camilla always seemed relaxed during their train trips. “[The king and queen] were both good and comfortable … It was a nice way to travel and they both enjoyed it.”
He added that the train wasn’t just for relaxing. Members of the family used the time onboard to catch up on work.
“The king and Prince William have also been photographed doing work on the train so they used the journey to do lots of jobs,” Harrold said. “I know the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also worked on the royal train too.”
He also explained that the train became an important part of the Royal Family’s travels. “It was more than a mode of transport. It was a popular way to travel and do work, and it was like a mini hotel on rails.”
End of the royal train
Royal fans hoping to see the train in person may not have much time left.
In June 2025, Buckingham Palace announced plans to decommission it as part of King Charles’ plan to cut costs.
Members of the Royal Family have traveled aboard the train since 1840, but keeping it on the tracks has gotten more expensive over the years.
The train is expected to be retired by March 2027, though it’s still unclear when the royals will take their last trip.
