He blows a fortune on Royal Train trip
Heir-raising costs ... Prince Charles steps of the Royal Train
PRINCE Charles blew £35,000 of taxpayers’ cash on a single tour on the Royal Train — almost 250 TIMES the cost of a standard fare, figures show.
The heir to the throne chalked up the bill on a 550-mile, three-day trip on the lavish loco to visit the castle where the Harry Potter films were shot and an RAF station.
Royal flush ... Prince Charles on special train
His near £63-a-mile jaunt was the costliest in 2012/3 on the official train — mile-for-mile the most expensive royal transport.
The Queen uses standard trains when practical and in May took a scheduled London to Cambridge service to open a research building. Charles, 64, began his trip in Kemble, Gloucs — the nearest station to his Highgrove home.
The reign at platform 2 ... the thrifty Queen
He travelled to Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, before heading to Alnmouth, Northumbria.
He visited Alnwick Castle — home to Harry Potter and Hogwarts — Auckland Castle, RAF Boulmer and a brewery before finally heading to King’s Lynn, a Norfolk station near Sandringham, another royal residence.
Costly voyage ... Prince Charles' expensive tour of the country
Last July’s trip cost £34,547. The cheapest equivalent on scheduled services is £144.20 — £68.50 for a Kemble to Bishop Auckland single, plus £21.20 for a Bishop Auckland to Alnmouth return and £54.50 for a Bishop Auckland to King’s Lynn single.
Palace accounts show Charles made six Royal Train trips in the year costing at least £10,000 — with a bill of £148,318. An eight-day Middle East trip with Camilla cost £235,325 in chartered flights.
The Queen made eight Royal Train journeys for £205,954. A spokesman said the Royal Train was “a secure way of ensuring they arrive at their destination.”
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