QUEEN ELIZABETH II SURPRISED PASSENGERS ON HER RECENT TRAIN JOURNEY. THE QUEEN LOOKED LIKE ANY OTHER RAIL TRAVELER AS SHE CAUGHT A TRAIN BACK TO LONDON AFTER HER SIX WEEK WINTER BREAK AT SANDRINGHAM. FELLOW PASSENGERS WATCHED IN SURPRISE AS THE 83 YEAR OLD MONARCH GOT INTO HER OWN FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT AT THE STATION IN KING'S LYNN, NORFOLK. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH DID NOT ACCOMPANY THE QUEEN ON THE FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT TRAIN FOR THE 100 MILE JOURNEY TO KING'S CROSS, LONDON, HE IS BELIEVED TO BE STAYING BEHIND ON THE 20,000 ACRE ROYAL ESTATE IN NORFOLK SO THAT HE CAN ENJOY HARE SHOOTING PARTIES WITH FRIENDS. THE HARE SHOOTS TRADITIONALLY TAKE PLACE AT SANDRINGHAM IN FEBRUARY AFTER THE END OF THE PHEASANT SHOOTING SEASON. THE QUEEN, WEARING A BLUE COAT AND HEADSCARF, ARRIVED FIVE MINUTES EARLY AT THE STATION DURING A BRIEF SNOWFALL AFTER BEING DRIVEN SEVEN MILES FROM SANDRINGHAM. SHE SMILED AS SHE WALKED THE 30 YARDS DOWN PLATFORM ONE TO GET TO THE FRONT OF THE FOUR-CARRIAGE TRAIN. AN ONLOOKER AT THE STATION SAID: 'SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SMARTY-DRESSED LADY GETTING ON THE TRAIN. PEOPLE COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR EYES WHEN THEY SAW HER.' THE TRAIN WHICH DID NOT HAVE A BUFFET SERVICE LEFT ON SCHEDULE AND ARRIVED ON TIME AT 12:33pm AT KING'S CROSS WHERE A ROYAL CAR WAS WAITING TO PICK UP THE QUEEN. BUCKINGHAM PALACE OFFICIALS ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE BOOKED ALL THE SEATS IN THE FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE QUEEN COULD SIT UNDISTURBED WITH HER AIDES. THE ONE WAY FIRST CLASS TICKETS WOULD NORMALLY HAVE COST £44.40 EACH FOR THE 100 MILE JOURNEY. BUT AS SHE IS OVER 65, THE QUEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO A DISCOUNT TICKET COSTING £29.30 IF SHE HAD APPLIED FOR IT. A FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT SPOKESPERSON SAID: THE QUEEN OFTEN TRAVELS BY TRAIN AND SETS A GREAT EXAMPLE BY DOING SO. IT IS THE QUICKEST AND GREENEST WAY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN LONDON AND KING'S LYNN.'
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