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The Queen was shown how to top up an Oyster Card today during a surprise visit to Paddington Station to officially open the Elizabeth Line with Prince Edward – days after cancelling her appearance at the State Opening of Parliament due to ‘mobility issues’.
The 96-year-old, who now rarely carries out public engagements outside of her royal residences and was using a walking cane, picked up a limited edition Elizabeth Line Oyster card. The card had already been topped up with five pounds for the Queen, who famously rarely carries cash.
A Crossrail worker then showed the monarch how the ticket machine worked, telling her: ‘If I just give you this ticket here, you just put it by the yellow reader right there.’
‘On there?’ the Queen replied.
‘Perfect, and if you see on the screen here it says you’ve got £5, and if you want to top up here’s £5 and £10.’
‘And where might I go?’
‘You can go all the way from here to Abbey Wood,’ the worker replied, before he and the Queen carried on chatting.
At this point, Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford turned to Prince Edward to explain that he would be given his own Oyster card so he could ride one of the first trains.
Dressed in sunshine yellow, the Queen arrived at 11.32am, stepping carefully from the transparent lift while holding a walking stick. She smiled warmly as she met Crossrail and Elizabeth line workers and walked slowly as she made her way around the station concourse.
Unveiling a plaque stating that she had ‘officially opened’ the Elizabeth line, the monarch spent 10 minutes in the station before leaving in a lift, escorted by her son Edward. The earl then returned to the concourse ahead of a return journey on the railway from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road.
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.
But in a major clue an hour and a quarter before Edward was due to arrive, Transport for London removed a plaque saying he had opened Crossrail and replaced it with one eight inches lower bearing the Queen’s name.
The Queen’s outfit was a Stewart Parvin double-wool crepe coat with an A-line silk dress in shades of yellow, royal blue and turquoise, and a matching hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan. She was wearing her Singapore brooch.
Prince Edward was invited to stand in the driver’s cab during the second leg of the journey back to Paddington and chatted with driver Carinne Spinola as the train moved. After stepping off the train at Paddington, the Earl of Wessex said: ‘That was brilliant. I did enjoy that. It was good fun.’
Boris Johnson, Grant Shapps and Sadiq Khan also spent an awkward few minutes sitting side by side on the train. Transport Secretary Mr Shapps recently referred Mr Khan, the Major of London, to the Electoral Commission for revealing the start date of the new Crossrail commuter line on the eve of local elections, making the photo op especially uncomfortable.
Following the Queen’s visit, the Prime Minister told the invited guests: ‘We’re all incredibly touched and moved and grateful to her Majesty for coming to open the Elizabeth line today. It was fantastic to see her.’
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The Queen, who now rarely carries out public engagements outside of her royal residences and was carrying a walking cane, picked up a limited edition Elizabeth Line Oyster card before staff showed her how to top it up
The Queen does not usually carry cash, although she makes an exception on Sundays so she can donate during church services
Queen Elizabeth II at Paddington station in London, to mark the completion of London’s Crossrail project, which will be known as the Elizabeth Line
In a major clue an hour before Edward was due to arrive, Transport for London removed a plaque saying he had opened Crossrail and replaced it with one eight inches lower bearing the Queen’s name
The Queen walked slowly as she made her way around the station concourse with Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford (left) and Prince Edward (right)
The Queen, who was using a walking stick, smiled warmly as she met Crossrail and Elizabeth line workers
Dressed in sunshine yellow, the Queen arrived at 11.32am, stepping carefully from the transparent lift while holding a walking stick
The Elizabeth line, named in honour of the Queen (who is pictured today), will open to passengers on May 24
The Queen with Edward, the Earl of Wessex, during the opening of the Elizabeth Line at Paddington Station today
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan riding the Elizabeth Line today
Mr Shapps recently referred Mr Khan to the Electoral Commission for revealing the start date of the new Crossrail commuter line on the eve of local elections, making the photo op especially awkward
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 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.
Today’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.
The Queen and Edward were welcomed by Boris Johnson, Sadiq Khan and Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford.
The Queen and Edward met staff who have been key to the project and who will run the railway, including train drivers, station staff and apprentices.
The Elizabeth line, named in honour of the Queen in her Jubilee year, will open to passengers on May 24.
The Queen seen taking a ceremonial Oyster card from a ticket machine, which had been topped up with £5
She spent around 10 minutes in the station before departing in a lift, accompanied by her Prince Edward, her youngest son
Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Wessex chatting with Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford and a member of Crossrail staff
The Queen unveils a plaque to mark the Elizabeth line’s official opening at Paddington station in London, to mark the completion of London’s Crossrail project
The nation’s longest reigning head of state is just over two weeks away from her Platinum Jubilee celebratory weekend
The Queen smiled warmly as she met Crossrail and Elizabeth line workers and walked slowly as she made her way around the station concourse
Following the Queen’s visit, Boris Johnson told the invited guests: ‘We’re all incredibly touched and moved and grateful to her Majesty for coming to open the Elizabeth line today. It was fantastic to see her’
Crossrail, the project to build the new east-west railway, was delayed and over budget due to numerous issues including construction difficulties and complications installing signalling systems.
It was due to be completed in December 2018 and was set a budget of £14.8 billion in 2010.
The total cost has been estimated at £18.9 billion, including £5.1 billion from the Government.
The Elizabeth line will boost capacity and cut journey times for travel across the capital.
It will stretch from Reading, in Berkshire, and Heathrow Airport, in west London, to Shenfield, in Essex, and Abbey Wood, in south-east London.
Trains will initially operate in three sections, which are expected to be integrated in the autumn.
On Sunday the Queen was the guest of honour at the equestrian extravaganza A Gallop Through History near Windsor, the first major event of the Jubilee festivities
Today’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
Transport for London released this new map this morning showing how the initial Crossrail services will operate from May 24
An Elizabeth line train near West Drayton station. The trains are already running on existing track in East and West London
Transport for London has revealed ‘Elizabeth line’ trains are initially set to run every five minutes from Monday to Saturday
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