The Queen tells of love of trains as first royal railway trip is recreated
THE QUEEN has revealed her love of train travel as she recreated the first railway journey made by a monarch.
While Queen Victoria made the trip from Slough to London Paddington by steam 175 years ago, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh travelled on a modern electric-diesel service which will be introduced later this year by Great Western Railway (GWR).
Renowned Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel created the GWR route the royal couple travelled along and they were joined for the journey on Tuesday by his descendant, Isambard Thomas.
Victoria had been persuaded on board by Prince Albert, who was fascinated by the new technology. Her journey began at noon on June 13 1842, while the Queen’s trip on the new intercity express left at almost the same time – pulling away at 12.01, three minutes ahead of schedule – and took 19 minutes to reach Paddington. Sitting opposite the Queen was Gillian White, 87, great-great-granddaughter of Daniel Gooch, engine driver for Victoria’s journey. She said about the Queen: “She loves trains because they are an easy way of travelling.”
NATIONAL FIGURES have celebrated their membership of a prestigious order – but were told it was not for celebrities simply known for being famous.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were joined by wellknown individuals like Sir David Attenborough, York’s Dame Judi Dench and Sir Roger Bannister for a choral evensong service at Hampton Court Palace to commemorate the centenary of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
The order was established in 1917 by George V in recognition of service of national importance.
It is sometimes regarded as the junior honour to the Order of Merit and is made up of the sovereign, plus no more than 65 members, who may use the letters CH after their names.
In his sermon Rev Richard Chartres, Dean of HM Chapels Royal, told the congregation the order’s tradition of an “abhorrence of ostentation” meant the 100th anniversary service was the first time the companions had been “solemnly convened”.
The Dean, who delivered his sermon at Hampton Court Palace’s chapel royal, went on to say: “Some members of the order have been and are today household names. But this is not an order for celebrities who are simply well known for their wellknownness. But practitioners in various fields with a sustained record of service of national importance.”
He added: “The order stands not merely for public achievements but for the kind of integrity and unshakeable commitment to principle.”
This is not an order for celebrities who are simply well known.
Reverend Richard Chartres, Dean of HM Chapels Royal.