Queen Elizabeth II’s cherished Royal Train is being retired, as moves to modernize the monarchy and curb long-term expenses.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the historic nine-carriage train, in use since Queen Victoria’s reign, will be decommissioned before its maintenance contract ends in approximately two years. The train was widely regarded as Queen Elizabeth’s most cherished and frequently used modes of transport during her 70-year reign.

The announcement came during the palace’s annual financial briefing—where it also revealed the purchase of two new helicopters to support royal duties.

Why It Matters

The decision brings to an end a storied legacy that began in 1869, when Queen Victoria commissioned special coaches for her travels. The current train is a suite of nine luxurious railcars designed to be attached to commercial locomotives.

What to Know

Palace officials framed the move as part of a broader effort to be more “disciplined and forward-looking” in how public funds are used.

The announcement was made during the palace’s annual financial briefing, which also confirmed that the royal household will receive £86.3 million ($118 million) in public funding for the fourth consecutive year. This includes £34.5 million dedicated to the continued remodeling of Buckingham Palace, a multi-year renovation project.

Royal funding comes from the Sovereign Grant, a financial mechanism that allocates 12 percent of the net income generated by the Crown Estate, a vast portfolio of commercial and residential properties held by the monarch during his reign. While the monarch cannot sell these properties, they are professionally managed, and the revenue supports the official functions of the royal family.

The Crown Estate’s roots trace back to King George III, who in 1760 surrendered control of crown lands to Parliament in exchange for a fixed annual payment from the Treasury—laying the groundwork for the modern funding system. Still, the monarchy’s finances remain a subject of scrutiny and debate in Britain.

King Charles has pledged to streamline the monarchy, making it more financially efficient and publicly accountable in the face of economic pressures and evolving public expectations. Although the Sovereign Grant has held steady for four years, inflation has chipped away at its value. Palace officials noted that had it kept pace with inflation, the grant would have reached £106 million this year.

The royals also generated £21.5 million ($29.5 million) in additional income from properties outside the Crown Estate, with a £1.7 million increase largely driven by a record year in tourism. Special tours of the newly renovated East Wing of Buckingham Palace contributed to this growth.

In the past year, the royal family undertook 1,900 public engagements, hosted 93,000 guests at 828 events, and represented the U.K. abroad. King Charles traveled to Australia, participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, and welcomed leaders from Japan and Qatar during state visits. The family also played a key role in commemorating the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and V-E Day, further reinforcing its role on both the national and international stage.

What People Are Saying

James Chalmers, the palace official overseeing royal finances, said in a statement: “In moving forwards we must not be bound by the past. Just as so many parts of the royal household’s work have modernized and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding.”

Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, defended the institution’s public cost to the Associated Press, saying it yields outsized benefits: “It’s something that puts Britain on the world stage in a way that few other things do,” he said, citing ‘s funeral—the largest gathering of world leaders in history—and King Charles’s coronation, both broadcast globally. “It’s one of those things that people think about when they think about Britain.”

What Happens Next

The train, actually a suite of nine railcars that can be hitched to commercial locomotives, will be decommissioned sometime before the current maintenance contract expires in 2027.

Update: 6/30/25, 5:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.