Why Prince Philip Disliked Traveling By Train After His Royal Tour Of Canada

Prince Philip started having a negative impression of trains after his royal tour of Canada in 1952 with Queen Elizabeth II.

According to royal author Robert Hardman, the Duke of Edinburgh didn’t think that riding the train was a comfortable mode of transportation.

“It was a hugely ambitious tour, designed to carry the royal couple all across Canada and then back again. Much of the journey would be by special Royal Train decorated in the Princess’s favorite ‘surf green,’ along with green damask and taffeta curtains and a light-brown carpet,” Hardman said.

But the elaborate design of the train contributed very little to the dad of four’s wellbeing. Prince Philip found the train ride faintly claustrophobic because the train was snug and insulated against the increasingly bracing weather.

After getting off the train, Prince Philip declared how he felt like a poached egg following the ride. He also said that he couldn’t breathe the entire time.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh’s dislike of trains resulted in one favorite family story among the members of the royal family.

“To this day, says the Countess of Wessex, a favorite Royal Family story concerns the occasion when the couple returned to the Royal Train in a remote town to find a band, as usual, waiting on the platform. 'Instead of getting on the train, the Duke of Edinburgh went up to the bandmaster and said: ‘Look, we never get to hear the band because whenever the band strikes up, the train always pulls out of the station. So, it would be really nice to actually hear you play!’” he said.

But when the band started playing, the train pulled out of the station while Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were still standing on the platform.

In related news, Prince Philip also dislikes riding economy class planes. During a previous interview, he said that the ride sounds ghastly. But as a member of the royal family, Prince Philip usually travels via a private plane.