Tube and train passengers, your ears are not deceiving you. Yes, that really was the King telling you to “mind the gap”.
Charles and Camilla have recorded a special message that will be played across all 2,570 UK rail stations and the 270 London Underground stations over the Coronation weekend.
It includes the King playing the role of station announcer to issue the most famous of all Tube warnings: “Mind the gap.”
The recording, which was made at Charles’s country retreat, Highgrove, earlier this year in conjunction with Transport for London audio engineers, sees the royal couple perform a double act.
The King says: “My wife and I wish you and your families a wonderful Coronation weekend.”
The Queen Consort continues: “Wherever you are travelling, we hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.”
The King then adds: “And remember, please mind the gap.”
The announcement will be heard from Friday May 5 until Monday May 8.
Andy Lord, TfL commissioner, said: “With less than one day to go before the Coronation, we look forward to hosting Londoners and visitors from across the globe.
“We are honoured to support the celebrations with a special station announcement across our network from their majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.”
Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail firms, said: “The Coronation is a rare and exciting event and we very much look forward to welcoming passengers with this special message.
“It’s wonderful that their majesties are including rail passengers as part of this historic moment.”
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “Our station colleagues are pulling out all the stops to welcome people to London for the Coronation and it’s fantastic that they will also be welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.”
On Thursday, the Prince and Princess of Wales made their first trip on the Elizabeth line - named in honour of William’s grandmother - as part of the Coronation festivities.
They boarded an eastbound train at Acton and travelled to Tottenham Court Road before heading to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho, where William poured the first pint of Kingmaker beer, a pale ale brewed to mark the Coronation.
TfL is running a full service over the Coronation weekend and some rail firms are laying on extra trains. The Carolean Express, the newly renamed 11am London North East Railway (LNER) service from King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, will start running on Saturday, at the very minute the Coronation service begins at Westminster Abbey.
