A Royal train back in time to Christmas estate
IT IS a hideaway buried so deep in the Norfolk countryside that it once had its own time zone.
As the Queen stepped off the train at King’s Lynn yesterday and made the half-hour car journey to the estate at Sandringham that is her Christmas retreat, she was keeping alive a tradition that dates from the mid-Victorian era.
The estate, which is privately owned by the monarch, was bought by the future Edward VII as a private country retreat. He had the main house rebuilt in 1870 to ensure it was big enough for his growing family.
He created what he called Sandringham Time – ST for short – to make the most of the winter daylight hours for shooting, by advancing the clocks all over the estate by half an hour.
The custom was abolished only in 1936 – one of the only acts by Edward VIII between his accession and his abdication.
The vast surrounding estate includes 16,000 acres of farmland, 3,500 acres of woodland and 150 properties. The Duke of Edinburgh took on responsibility for its management at the start of the Queen’s reign in 1952.
Yesterday, she mingled briefly with passengers as she was escorted to a waiting Range Rover. Phil Kay, who had boarded the train at Downham Market, said he didn’t know she was on board until he arrived at King’s Lynn and saw police and photographers on the platform.
“It makes her more acceptable to the people, doing things like that,” he said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be among the family members joining the Queen for part of the festive period. They will attend their traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church.