Queen dazzles at tube line opening
ENGAGEMENT IS HER FIRST OUTSIDE WINDSOR SINCE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
THE Queen made a surprise appearance at the opening of the new Elizabeth line on Tuesday, May 17.
Her attendance was not publicly announced in advance, with the head of state facing ongoing mobility problems, but organisers were told there was a possibility she might be able to attend.
The nation’s longest reigning head of state is just over two weeks away from her Platinum Jubilee celebratory weekend.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “In a happy development, Her Majesty The Queen is attending today’s event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth line.
“Her Majesty was aware of the engagement and the organisers were informed of the possibility she may attend.”
The Queen and Prince Edward, who had been scheduled to replace her at the event, were being welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Byford at Paddington Station.
The Queen rallied to make a trip to the Windsor Horse Show on Friday and on Sunday was the guest of honour at the equestrian extravaganza A Gallop Through
History near Windsor, the first major event of the Jubilee festivities.
But Tuesday’s engagement is the Queen’s first one outside of the Windsor area since she attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in Westminster Abbey seven weeks ago.
They were meeting staff who have been key to the project and who will run the railway, including train drivers, station staff and apprentices.
Trains will initially operate in three sections, reducing to two sections in the autumn before Londoners will finally be able to travel from one end to the other in 2023, something which has caused disappointment for some.