Elizabeth II has demonstrated once again why she continues to be one of Britain's most popular monarchs in history.
In hard times, such as during war or recession, whenever her country and her subjects have been suffering, the Queen has never flaunted her privilege nor taken our goodwill for granted.
As is tradition, the Royal Family are to spend Christmas at their estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.
The Queen, of course, could have travelled to Norfolk in the ultimate of luxury in the style that's fit for a Queen.
But members of the public at King's Cross Station in London looked on amazed on Thursday by the sight of a little old lady wearing a headscarf and wrapped up from the freezing weather boarding the 10.45 First Capital Connect train to King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
For this old lady was none other than the 83-year-old Queen.
Without pomp — and more importantly, without unnecessary cost — (the first-class ticket without ‘seniors’ discount came to £44) the monarch sat near the rear of the train at a window seat with one of her minders sat next to her (unlike the US President, who would have minders swarming everywhere causing havoc, the Queen had relatively few). She also accepted a posy of flowers from a little girl just before she boarded the train.
The Queen has her own Royal Train which costs taxpayers £57,142 each time it is taken out of its sidings.
Despite what republicans believe, the British Royal Family costs much less than a republic would. Just look at how expensive the US Presidency is.
The American President's Air Force One alone cost more than the ENTIRE British monarchy. Air Force One cost $650 million and Marine One (the US President's fleet of helicopters) cost $11 BILLION for 28 craft, whereas in 2008, the entire British monarchy cost a mere £41.5 million.
Elizabeth II is the kind of Head of State people such as the Americans, French, Germans and Italians must be wishing they had.
Your (commuter) carriage awaits! Thrifty Queen catches ordinary passenger train on her journey to Sandringham for Christmas
By Rebecca English
17th December 2009
Daily Mail
There was a buzz at King’s Cross this morning as platform 11b began crawling with police.
Could it be a drug bust, the crowd wondered? Or was a rock star about to board a train?
Then a small lady in a headscarf appeared, a handbag on one arm and a posy on the other.
Fellow passengers on the 10.45 First Capital Connect service to King’s Lynn couldn’t quite believe their eyes as the Queen stepped on board a first class carriage.
Enlarge
Look who I saw down the station: A fellow passenger snaps Her Majesty as she boards a First Capital Connect train at King's Cross Station in London bound for King's Lynn, Norfolk, en route to Sandringham for Christmas
Enlarge
The royal train: A first class ticket for the 95-minute journey costs £44.40 while a standard fare is £27.70
‘The Queen on a First Capital Connect – unbelievable!’ exclaimed Andrew Smith, who was making the same journey for a business meeting.
‘My wife will never believe me.’ Relatively speaking there was minimal fuss, although some travellers reacted angrily when police shut off the area without warning five minutes before the train was due to leave.
The monarch, with a few attendants, sat at the rear of the train in an eight-seat section of a carriage which was separated from the rest of the seats by a sliding glass door.
As the train pulled out she took her place by the window next to one of her protection officers and looked out at the scenery.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II accepts a posy of flowers before she boards the train
The Queen, 83, appeared perfectly relaxed as she chatted with her aides for the first leg of the 100 mile journey to King’s Lynn, the nearest station to Sandringham.
But after the train’s stop at Cambridge a secretary opened a briefcase and the Queen spent most of the rest of the journey opening and reading her Christmas cards.
Other first class passengers who tried to join her compartment were told by the four plain-clothes royal protection guards to sit in another first class section in the train.
First among equals: The Queen looks out of the window as she sits beside a Royal Protection Officer
Only a toddler penetrated the tight security as he ran up the alleyway followed by his father and pressed his nose against the glass.
He was too small to reach the button to open the door. But he did win a cheery smile from the Queen.
Asked by a passenger, one security guard confirmed that the Queen – and all her attendants – had bought tickets for the journey.
A first class open return bought on the day costs £86, but the guard joked: ‘It was probably a super saver advance – and she does get a discount as an OAP, remember.’
An advance first class ticket, without the seniors’ discount, costs £44.40.
When the train arrived at King’s Lynn at 12.20pm sharp, the Queen was met by a Range Rover.
Enlarge
Face in the crowd: A police officer waits for the Queen as she gets off the train at Kings Lynn. She travelled with the minimum of protection
She then sped away for the seven-mile journey to Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, where she will be spending Christmas with the rest of her family.
She was not accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he already made the journey a few days ago. A First Capital Connect spokesman confirmed the Queen had not been given any special treatment and that her tickets had been purchased in advance.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: ‘Members of the Royal Family, including the Queen, frequently use scheduled train services.
‘We have to look at issues such as cost effectiveness and security but do try to when it is appropriate.
The Queen does, of course, also have use of the Royal Train – but that costs taxpayers £57,142 each time it is taken out of its sidings.
READERS' COMMENTS (Mostly from jealous Americans who wished their nation was still a Monarchy)
God Bless her!
Your Queen is a lovely example of a life well spent.
I recently spent three years living in the UK and reading about her was the bright spot among mostly dreary "Labour" news. She adds a genuine grace to your country.
Happy Christmas to all!
- JP Ehrlich, Chesterfield Missouri USA
*************************************************
Was she listening to 0bama's speeches on that iPod that he gave to her?
Didn't think so.
- William G, Yorkshire
***********************************************
We forget that during the bombing of London, This wonderful woman would show up daily to help with the wounded, clear streets, provide food and in general help to keep up the morale of the citizens.
We would be wise to learn from her actions, not just send her a CD.
- Dan Hutton, Eolia, Missouri, U.S
**********************************************
She is a lovely lady with great class. She has been called cold, when she is restrained and sensible. We could all learn from her! Wishing her good health!
- p baxter, Cotuit USA
*******************************************
Long live the Queen. We love her here in America.
- smokehouse, Fleetwood, PA USA
*****************************************
It would be great if we Yanks could get our representatives in government to use public transportation. Nancy Pelosi uses a private jet for all of her travels. Nancy, take a lesson from the Queen.
- Don Smith, Pataskala, USA
******************************************
May God bless the Queen and all of Britain.........we love you ...and Merry Christmas to you all!
- Joe,, Birmingham Alabama USA
***************************************
Maybe someone should show this article to Obama and Pelosi. Those knuckleheads could learn about what it really means to 'lead' from an article like this.
- politics101, Texas
**************************************
This is only ONE of the reasons we love this woman over here...
- Thomas G, Sacramento, USA
*****************************************
If only the American Head of State had such class.
- B. Ray Holland, Enterprise USA
***************************************
Good for her!! She's always been frugal, and this is another excellent example of it. It was her idea to pay tax, to cut the civil list, to get rid of the Royal Yacht, and yet this money-wasting government won't give her a penny to spend on the upkeep of the royal palaces which are of historical importance.
Apparently she loves these occasions when she can go out in a fairly private way with minimum fuss and she and Prince Philip occasionally go to the theatre and sit in the ordinary seats. I love her, I think she's great!
- Natalie, Luton
*****************************************
If only President Obama would practice the same frugality in his travels.
- D. Miller, Indianapolis, IN USA
dailymail.co.uk
In hard times, such as during war or recession, whenever her country and her subjects have been suffering, the Queen has never flaunted her privilege nor taken our goodwill for granted.
As is tradition, the Royal Family are to spend Christmas at their estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.
The Queen, of course, could have travelled to Norfolk in the ultimate of luxury in the style that's fit for a Queen.
But members of the public at King's Cross Station in London looked on amazed on Thursday by the sight of a little old lady wearing a headscarf and wrapped up from the freezing weather boarding the 10.45 First Capital Connect train to King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
For this old lady was none other than the 83-year-old Queen.
Without pomp — and more importantly, without unnecessary cost — (the first-class ticket without ‘seniors’ discount came to £44) the monarch sat near the rear of the train at a window seat with one of her minders sat next to her (unlike the US President, who would have minders swarming everywhere causing havoc, the Queen had relatively few). She also accepted a posy of flowers from a little girl just before she boarded the train.
The Queen has her own Royal Train which costs taxpayers £57,142 each time it is taken out of its sidings.
Despite what republicans believe, the British Royal Family costs much less than a republic would. Just look at how expensive the US Presidency is.
The American President's Air Force One alone cost more than the ENTIRE British monarchy. Air Force One cost $650 million and Marine One (the US President's fleet of helicopters) cost $11 BILLION for 28 craft, whereas in 2008, the entire British monarchy cost a mere £41.5 million.
Elizabeth II is the kind of Head of State people such as the Americans, French, Germans and Italians must be wishing they had.
Your (commuter) carriage awaits! Thrifty Queen catches ordinary passenger train on her journey to Sandringham for Christmas
By Rebecca English
17th December 2009
Daily Mail
There was a buzz at King’s Cross this morning as platform 11b began crawling with police.
Could it be a drug bust, the crowd wondered? Or was a rock star about to board a train?
Then a small lady in a headscarf appeared, a handbag on one arm and a posy on the other.
Fellow passengers on the 10.45 First Capital Connect service to King’s Lynn couldn’t quite believe their eyes as the Queen stepped on board a first class carriage.
Enlarge
Look who I saw down the station: A fellow passenger snaps Her Majesty as she boards a First Capital Connect train at King's Cross Station in London bound for King's Lynn, Norfolk, en route to Sandringham for Christmas
Enlarge
The royal train: A first class ticket for the 95-minute journey costs £44.40 while a standard fare is £27.70
‘The Queen on a First Capital Connect – unbelievable!’ exclaimed Andrew Smith, who was making the same journey for a business meeting.
‘My wife will never believe me.’ Relatively speaking there was minimal fuss, although some travellers reacted angrily when police shut off the area without warning five minutes before the train was due to leave.
The monarch, with a few attendants, sat at the rear of the train in an eight-seat section of a carriage which was separated from the rest of the seats by a sliding glass door.
As the train pulled out she took her place by the window next to one of her protection officers and looked out at the scenery.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II accepts a posy of flowers before she boards the train
The Queen, 83, appeared perfectly relaxed as she chatted with her aides for the first leg of the 100 mile journey to King’s Lynn, the nearest station to Sandringham.
But after the train’s stop at Cambridge a secretary opened a briefcase and the Queen spent most of the rest of the journey opening and reading her Christmas cards.
Other first class passengers who tried to join her compartment were told by the four plain-clothes royal protection guards to sit in another first class section in the train.
First among equals: The Queen looks out of the window as she sits beside a Royal Protection Officer
Only a toddler penetrated the tight security as he ran up the alleyway followed by his father and pressed his nose against the glass.
He was too small to reach the button to open the door. But he did win a cheery smile from the Queen.
Asked by a passenger, one security guard confirmed that the Queen – and all her attendants – had bought tickets for the journey.
A first class open return bought on the day costs £86, but the guard joked: ‘It was probably a super saver advance – and she does get a discount as an OAP, remember.’
An advance first class ticket, without the seniors’ discount, costs £44.40.
When the train arrived at King’s Lynn at 12.20pm sharp, the Queen was met by a Range Rover.
Enlarge
Face in the crowd: A police officer waits for the Queen as she gets off the train at Kings Lynn. She travelled with the minimum of protection
She then sped away for the seven-mile journey to Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, where she will be spending Christmas with the rest of her family.
She was not accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he already made the journey a few days ago. A First Capital Connect spokesman confirmed the Queen had not been given any special treatment and that her tickets had been purchased in advance.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: ‘Members of the Royal Family, including the Queen, frequently use scheduled train services.
‘We have to look at issues such as cost effectiveness and security but do try to when it is appropriate.
The Queen does, of course, also have use of the Royal Train – but that costs taxpayers £57,142 each time it is taken out of its sidings.
READERS' COMMENTS (Mostly from jealous Americans who wished their nation was still a Monarchy)
God Bless her!
Your Queen is a lovely example of a life well spent.
I recently spent three years living in the UK and reading about her was the bright spot among mostly dreary "Labour" news. She adds a genuine grace to your country.
Happy Christmas to all!
- JP Ehrlich, Chesterfield Missouri USA
*************************************************
Was she listening to 0bama's speeches on that iPod that he gave to her?
Didn't think so.
- William G, Yorkshire
***********************************************
We forget that during the bombing of London, This wonderful woman would show up daily to help with the wounded, clear streets, provide food and in general help to keep up the morale of the citizens.
We would be wise to learn from her actions, not just send her a CD.
- Dan Hutton, Eolia, Missouri, U.S
**********************************************
She is a lovely lady with great class. She has been called cold, when she is restrained and sensible. We could all learn from her! Wishing her good health!
- p baxter, Cotuit USA
*******************************************
Long live the Queen. We love her here in America.
- smokehouse, Fleetwood, PA USA
*****************************************
It would be great if we Yanks could get our representatives in government to use public transportation. Nancy Pelosi uses a private jet for all of her travels. Nancy, take a lesson from the Queen.
- Don Smith, Pataskala, USA
******************************************
May God bless the Queen and all of Britain.........we love you ...and Merry Christmas to you all!
- Joe,, Birmingham Alabama USA
***************************************
Maybe someone should show this article to Obama and Pelosi. Those knuckleheads could learn about what it really means to 'lead' from an article like this.
- politics101, Texas
**************************************
This is only ONE of the reasons we love this woman over here...
- Thomas G, Sacramento, USA
*****************************************
If only the American Head of State had such class.
- B. Ray Holland, Enterprise USA
***************************************
Good for her!! She's always been frugal, and this is another excellent example of it. It was her idea to pay tax, to cut the civil list, to get rid of the Royal Yacht, and yet this money-wasting government won't give her a penny to spend on the upkeep of the royal palaces which are of historical importance.
Apparently she loves these occasions when she can go out in a fairly private way with minimum fuss and she and Prince Philip occasionally go to the theatre and sit in the ordinary seats. I love her, I think she's great!
- Natalie, Luton
*****************************************
If only President Obama would practice the same frugality in his travels.
- D. Miller, Indianapolis, IN USA
dailymail.co.uk
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