King Charles set to scrap Royal Train as annual costs revealed

It has been revealed that The King will bid the "fondest of farewells" to the royal train as it will be decommissioned in 2027 following decades of service. It is understood that King Charles and other members of the Royal Family will rely on two new helicopters when the eight-carriage train stops running ahead of a maintenance contract ending in two years time.

The first train was created for Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century and has long played a key role in royal life, as it has been used over the years to transport the coffins of Queen Victoria, King George V and King George VI for burial in Windsor. On the news that the train will no longer be used, James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, explained that the move is an example of the royal household applying "fiscal discipline" in its drive to deliver "value for money".

Mr Chalmers said: "The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved. But in moving forward, we must not be bound by the past... With His Majesty's support, it has therefore been decided that the process to decommission the royal train will commence next year."

King Charles previously eyed up possible changes to make the royal train more environmentally friendly. In 2007, reports that he was behind a move to get the train to run on vegetable oil surfaced, with the King saying at the time: "It took me a long time to battle to get them to run it on used cooking oil. Which actually, in the end, worked quite well." Although he acknowledged the maintenance team might contest his assessment, admitting: "They say it clogs up the engine or something."

Elsewhere in this year's report, the annual accounts showed the Sovereign Grant, which supports the official duties of the Royal Family, will remain for a fourth consecutive year at £86.3 million (core £51.8 million and the reservicing of Buckingham Palace at £34.5 million), while royal travel increased by £500,000 to £4.7 million and payroll costs were up £2 million to £29.9 million.

The complete rundown of royal finances - from April 1 2024 to March 31 2025 - covers the months following the King and the Princess of Wales's double cancer diagnosis and the majority of 2024 - the year described by the Prince of Wales as "brutal" and probably the hardest of his life.

Mr Chalmers added that after returning to public-facing duties in April 2024, the King "... demonstrated remarkable resilience by undertaking a wide programme of public and state duties at home and overseas while continuing to receive treatment, demonstrating not only His Majesty's personal commitment to duty but also the adaptability and resilience of the royal household in ensuring continuity of service, no matter the personal circumstances".

The details in the Sovereign Grant were not the only ones published as the Duchy of Cornwall also issued its Annual Report.

Covering the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, it is clear that the Prince of Wales is focusing on creating a deep "era of deep change" as he continues his position as the Duke of Cornwall.

The role, which provides him with a private income of nearly £23 million a year, has launched a policy review of the rents it receives from charities and grassroots community groups.

The Duchy of Cornwall stretches over 52,173 hectares in 19 counties and has laid out the latest details of some of their biggest focuses - including their goal to be Net Zero by 2032, a focus on housing and homelessness, which goes hand in hand with William's Homewards project, and dedicating specific attention to mental health organisations in the region.

The Duchy is understood to have invested over £10 million this year in community development projects including housing projects Nansledan and Poundbury, which were originally launched when the King was still the Prince of Wales.

It has also invested over £2.8 million in environmental initiatives, including future farming and woodland programmes.

On how the Duchy will be shaped under William's stewardship, Will Bax, the Duchy's new secretary and keeper of records, said William wanted to ensure the Duchy operated in a "modern, socially minded way" and that the rents being saved amounted to a "very significant sum".