The Queen has made a surprise appearance to officially open the completed Elizabeth line, named in her honor.
She was given an Oyster card and shown how to use it on a ticket machine.
The 96-year-old monarch, who now rarely carries out public engagements outside of her royal residences, joined her youngest son the Earl of Wessex at Paddington Station for the royal visit on Tuesday.
Dressed in sunshine yellow, the Queen arrived at 11.32 am, stepping carefully from the transparent lift while holding a walking stick.
The Queen 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 departing in a lift, escorted by her son Edward.
The earl returned to the concourse ahead of a return journey on the railway from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road.
The nation’s longest-reigning head of state is just over two weeks away from her Platinum Jubilee celebratory weekend.
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 organizers were informed of the possibility she may attend.”
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.
The Queen rallied to make a trip to the Windsor Horse Show on Friday and on Sunday was the guest of honor at the equestrian extravaganza A Gallop Through History near Windsor, the first major event of the Jubilee festivities.
Tuesday’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 Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford.
Following the Queen’s visit, Mr. 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.”
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 honor of the Queen in her Jubilee year, will open to passengers on May 24.
Edward, on his trip on the line, was invited to stand in the driver’s cab during the second leg of the journey.
He chatted with driver Carinne Spinola as the train moved, telling her it was “brilliant”.
After stepping off the train at Paddington, the earl said: “That was brilliant. I did enjoy that. It was good fun.”
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 signaling 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.
Author: Londontopia Staff
This article was submitted and adapted by Londontopia Staff and used with a license from the Press Association UK (PA Media). All images and content used with permission.