As Prince William and Kate take the underground ahead of the coronation, a look at royals on the tube
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Kate Middleton and Prince William travelled on the Elizabethan line to the Dog and Duck pub in London’s Soho
Perhaps there was no symbolism intended when Prince William and Kate Middleton decided to take the tube, and more specifically the Elizabeth line to the Dog and Duck pub in London’s Soho? However, ahead of the coronation this weekend, I hope it was in fact a deliberate gesture by the couple and their aides to pay tribute to Prince William’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
After all, Queen Elizabeth II, despite suffering from mobility issues at the time, made a surprise appearance to open the then-new Elizabeth Line in London back in May 2022. She was accompanied by her youngest son, Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh.
Sky News reported that “Holding a walking stick, the monarch emerged from a transparent lift and smiled brightly, looking resplendent in a Stewart Parvin double-wool crepe coat in sunshine yellow.”
Although it is not an everyday occurrence when the royals take to the tube, it has happened several times in the past. As well as opening the Elizabeth Line in 2022, Queen Elizabeth 11 also opened the tube link to Heathrow back in 1978.
Going even further back in time than 1978, there is a wonderful black and white photograph on Getty, showing Queen Elizabeth 11, the then Princess Elizabeth, with her younger sister, Princess Margaret, Lady Helen Graham and their governess, Marion Kirk Crawford, taking the girls on their first ride on the London Underground in 1939.
In 1979, King Charles, then Prince Charles, visited Charing Cross Tube Station before its reopening after refurbishment.
He started dating Princess Diana a year later and married her on July 29, 1981.
Now, back to the present day, well almost! Back in 2013, Queen Elizabeth 11, the Duke of Edinburgh and Kate Middleton visited Baker Street Underground Station.
In 2015, King Charles and Queen Camilla, the then Prince of Wales and Camilla, marked 150 years of the London underground by travelling from Farringdon to London’s Kings Cross.
Although Kate Middleton and Prince William seemed to enjoy their London Underground experience today, this will of course not be their mode of transport for the coronation on May 6.
Kate Middleton also revealed today that the family were still getting ‘all of the ducks’ in a row before the momentous occasion takes place.