Queen Elizabeth has recreated the very first train journey made by a monarch.
On June 13 1842, Queen Victoria became the first royal to ever travel by train, and on Tuesday (13.06.17), Queen Elizabeth recreated her journey from Slough to Paddington to mark the 175th anniversary of the historical day.
And the 91-year-old monarch – who was accompanied by her husband Prince Philip – completed her own royal first too, as their rail journey marked the first to be made by a royal on a new bi-mode train.
The Queen and Prince Philip were accompanied on their journey by descendants of both Isambard Kingdom Brunel – who build the Great Western Railway – and Sir Daniel Gooch, who drove the original train, who said it was "fascinating" to see the Queen take an interest in trains.
Isambard Thomas, the great-great-great-grandson of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, said: "It was fascinating how much interest she has in trains and in train journeys. Obviously it’s a different thing if you’re the monarch; you’re not sat in second class, queuing for the buffet."
And Isambard added he thought it was "remarkable" that the royals had agreed to take part in the recreation, which was six minutes quicker than when Queen Victoria made the trip 175 years ago.
He added: "The Queen was interested in the technology and the electrification and the effects of diesel. I think it’s remarkable that she and the Duke of Edinburgh agreed to do this."
Meanwhile Gillian White, the great-great-granddaughter of Sir Daniel Gooch, dubbed the monarch as "lovely", but wished she could speak to her for longer.
She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "She loves trains because they are an easy way of travelling, such a lovely way of setting around. We talked about trains, there was a senior manager with us who was pointing things out as we travelled.
"But I was dying to have a nice conversation because she was lovely, but we didn’t really get to talk about anything else but trains."
Queen Elizabeth recreates iconic train journey
