Princess Anne receives special 'honour' during visit to Paddington station

Princess Anne receives special 'honour' during visit to Paddington station

Watch: Princess Anne has a train named after her at Paddington station

GB News
Hannah Ross

By Hannah Ross


Published: 03/05/2024

- 11:57

The Princess Royal had a train named after her in recognition of her lifetime services

  • Princess Anne said she "much appreciated" having her name on the side of the Intercity Express Train
  • The Great Western Railway recognised the princess's commitment to important charities and public services
  • Have your say: Do you think Princess Anne is the hardest-working royal? Just click the comment button above now

Princess Anne received a special "honour" during her visit to Paddington station on Thursday.

The Princess Royal had a train named after her in recognition of her support for more than 300 charities and military regiments in the UK and overseas.


Anne traveled to Paddington train station with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence who is a member of the Great Western Railway Board.

The 73-year-old royal looked smart in a grey blazer with a matching maxi skirt and a pair of knee-high leather boots.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne had a train named after her by the Great Western Railway

Getty

She accessorised her outfit with a pair of black gloves and a bright green shirt decorated with a bow.

The princess made a speech during the event stating: "Thank you very much indeed for this honour, it's much appreciated.

"But I hope you that you recognise the common denominator here is the understanding of the word logistics, in this case particularly railways.

"I do think that's a subject which many of the organisations that I'm involved with really do have a clear understanding of, it is their role."

Princess Anne

The Princess Royal visited Paddington station to unveil her name on the side of a train

GWR

Anne unveiled a curtain to show the new Intercity Express Train with the writing "HRH The Princess Royal" on the side to the crowd's applause.

The princess continued: "I'm grateful for their persistence in understanding that particular area of work and for which we understand the railways, the key part they play, for everybody and that it has a real future.

"This is really kind of you but does it reflect, I hope, a real understanding of the role of logistics, particularly railways, in our lives, certainly historically but definitely for the future."

Above Anne's name are prints of two sides of a coin; one showing an illustration of the princess competing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the other with the Coat of Arms of the GWR.

Intercity Express Train

HRH The Princess Royal printed on the side of the Intercity Express Train

GWR

The Princess Royal is known for her love of horses and won gold in the 1971 European Championships.

Mark Hopwood, GWR Managing Director, said: "Today GWR proudly continues this tradition, recognising and celebrating inspirational individuals who have shaped the communities and the nation.

"Her Royal Highness has dedicated a large part of her working life to official engagements and visits and we are delighted to recognise this immense contribution by carrying her name on the side of this Intercity Express Train."

The princess went on to attend the second day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Thursday which was a favourite of her late mother's, Queen Elizabeth II.

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