Princess Kate and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, travelled on the Elizabeth line on Saturday, October 10, drawing both praise and criticism from fellow passengers. The Princess of Wales and Charlotte, 11, were heading into central London for a mother-and-daughter day out, according to eyewitness accounts.
Unexpected Royal Encounter on the Elizabeth Line
The pair were dressed casually and accompanied by plainclothes Royalty and Specialist Protection officers who remained nearby throughout the journey. Fellow travellers described the sighting as "surreal," with Charlotte reportedly appearing fascinated by the tube ride. As the train approached their stop, Kate was seen holding her daughter's hand. The outing was a private weekend trip rather than an official royal engagement.
It is understood that Princess Kate has long prioritised giving her children everyday experiences away from the formality of palace life, echoing the approach of Princess Diana, who famously took William and Harry on public transport and to theme parks. The Elizabeth line, which opened in 2022 and carries the name of Queen Elizabeth II, is widely regarded as one of London's most efficient, clean, and swift rail services, making it a practical choice for travelling into the city centre. Senior royals, including King Charles and Prince William, have been known to use it on occasion.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
While many were thrilled to see Kate offering Charlotte such an ordinary and quintessentially British experience, others were united in a three-word verdict: "it was a stunt." One Reddit user posted: "It's a stunt to show they can be 'like normal people'." Another added: "I do not, for one second, believe that they were there with non-vetted members of the public." A third commented: "You can tell the guys next to them are part of their protection team, but it is still a total stunt/set up." A fourth questioned: "How much longer are they going to keep doing stuff like this? These stunts aren't sustainable in the long term. Eventually something will give."
Despite numerous observers noting that Charlotte appeared 'amazed' by the journey, one person remarked: "She [Charlotte] looks so uncomfortable and confused as to why they are staging this farce."
Praise for Kate's Parenting Approach
Nevertheless, countless people heaped praise on Catherine for allowing her daughter to have this experience. One person wrote: "It's great that Catherine is exposing the children to real life, not hiding their faces and locking them in an ivory tower. They'll be well-adjusted and empathetic - just like their parents." Another contributed: "It's good for the kids to become acclimated to using public transport." A third hailed Kate as the 'people's princess'.
Royal Family's History with the Tube
King Charles and Prince William have both made several trips on the London Underground, joining Kate and Charlotte in doing so. Just days before King Charles's coronation in May 2023, Prince William and Kate boarded the Elizabeth line at Acton Main Line, travelling through to Tottenham Court Road. They chatted with Transport for London staff and fellow passengers before heading to a nearby Soho pub for a swift drink.
Growing up, both William and Harry regularly rode the Underground alongside Princess Diana, who was determined to give them an authentic experience of everyday public transport. As Prince of Wales, Charles made a journey on the Metropolitan line with Camilla in 2013, travelling from Farringdon to King's Cross St Pancras. The pair tapped in at the ticket barriers using specially issued commemorative Oyster cards. Charles also officially opened the Jubilee line in 1979, riding in the driver's cab from Green Park to Charing Cross. At just 19 years old, he donned a white boiler suit and safety helmet to venture 70 feet underground into the Victoria line tunnels near Brixton in 1968.
