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Pack your bags for a rare inside look at the monarchy in SECRETS OF ROYAL TRAVEL – Feb.18 at 8 pm
< < Back toPack Your Bags for a Rare Inside Look at the Monarchy’s Private Trains and Planes in
SECRETS OF ROYAL TRAVEL
Part One Airs Sunday, February 18 at 8 pm on WOUB
The British Royal Family is the most well-traveled monarchy in history. The Queen alone has been around the world 42 times, racking up over one million air miles. SECRETS OF ROYAL TRAVEL reveals the inside story of the monarchy on the move, taking viewers inside some of the most famous and exclusive transport in the world.
This two-part series opens the door to the private world of the Royal Train and the Royal Flight, each with its own mysterious traditions and protocols. It features a treasure trove of remarkable archival footage and interviews from the staff who drove the trains and flew the planes, as well as from those who cared for the Queen and her family in transit, offering a rare look into a world often hidden from public view.
“Secrets of the Royal Train” (Sunday, February 18) uncovers the inside story of the most luxurious and exclusive locomotive in the history of the British Isles, from its lavish past as the “royal express of excess” to its role today as the royal family’s mobile home away from home. For over 150 years, from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, it has been the monarchy’s favorite way to travel. But the private world behind its veiled carriages remained a mystery to all but a privileged few — until now.
This episode looks back at the Royal Train’s history, including a glimpse inside Queen Victoria’s luxurious railway cars commissioned in 1869. Resplendent with sumptuous satins, silks and 23-karat gold paint, Victoria’s train was outfitted with the latest modern conveniences, including the first-ever onboard toilet and electric lights.
The latest incarnation of the locomotive was presented to Queen Elizabeth for her Silver Jubilee in 1977. The Royal Train team offer unique insights into the tastes of the Queen, Prince Charles and the few select people allowed on board.