The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announce festive royal tour which holds special meaning for the Queen

Prince William and Duchess Catherine are set to tour the UK by royal train this week - the first official tour since the global pandemic began.

• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed their Royal Train Tour via Instagram 
• The couple will tour Great Britain spreading festive cheer and thanking those who have worked tirelessly throughout the covid-19 pandemic
• It follows royal news that the Queen has made unexpected change to her Christmas plans for the first time in 32 years 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are making some big changes to tradition and are borrowing the royal train from her Majesty the Queen to take a whistle stop tour of Great Britain starting on 6th December.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine will spread Christmas cheer across Scotland, England and Wales to thank those who have contributed towards the efforts against covid-19 - weeks after the Duke praised scientists for "cracking" the vaccine.

It is thought they will meet care home staff, teachers, schoolchildren and volunteers.

As the country approaches a Christmas season like no other, the Cambridge’s are keen to put a smile back on peoples’ faces with their fun and festive Royal Train Tour.

Kensington Palace promises live music, festive entertainment and performances along the 1,250 mile route, with the couple said to be “looking forward to shining a spotlight on the incredible work that has been done across the country throughout this difficult year and to sharing their gratitude on behalf of the nation for all those supporting their local communities ahead of the Christmas holidays."

Revealing the news on Instagram, the couple wrote, “The countdown to the #RoyalTrainTour🚂 begins!

“Starting tomorrow, The Duke and Duchess will travel on the Royal Train across England, Scotland, and Wales – undertaking working visits to pay tribute to the inspiring work of individuals and organisations that have gone above and beyond to support communities during this incredibly challenging year for the nation.”

The design work for the upcoming Royal Train Tour was designed by a British artist, Joe Whale. 

This will be the first time the couple use the royal train - which was created back in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee. The next milestone will be the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - to be marked with an additional bank holiday in 2022.