Prince William and Kate Middleton don’t share a bed when travelling together by train—simply because there isn’t room.
- Prince William and Kate Middleton do not sleep together when traveling by train, according to royal insiders.
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge must sleep apart on the Queen's royal train because there are no double beds on board.
- In other Royal News, Princess Diana's former bodyguard speaks out on worrying security risk for the Queen
Prince William and Kate Middleton were forced to sleep separately during their festive three-day royal tour of Britain last December due to the limited space on their plush transportation.
While the recently-aired Kate and William anniversary documentary didn't share too much of the couple's royal tours, we know what the couple spent plenty of time with each other on the Queen’s iconic train as they traveled across the country to thank frontline workers for their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pair had to split up when it came time to say good night.
The iconic seven-carriage train does not have any double beds but instead includes suites with ‘His’ and ‘Hers’ three-foot-wide single beds. These simple sleeping arrangements match the vehicle’s surprisingly stripped-back interior.
The overall design is functional, with minimal decor and basic furniture. There is a wood-paneled dining room that can seat twelve guests, as well as workrooms for royals and their staff.
The royal train's bedrooms are surprisingly simple.
"There is a perception the train is a bit like the Orient Express,” director of royal travel Tim Hewlett told the BBC in 2002. “But there are not many bathroom furnishings you could not get in Homebase or B&Q.”
The Queen’s quarters are also far less grandiose than her Buckingham Palace residence. Her Majesty has the privacy of her own carriage, but it shares its decor with the rest of the train. Despite its lackluster environment, the royal train remains the Queen’s favorite form of transport.
The train’s interior hasn’t always been so mediocre. During the reign of Queen Victoria in the 1800s, it was decked out with lavish furnishings that echoed Buckingham Palace's design.
The royal train used to be far more opulent.
The monarch’s taste for bold colors and rich textures was evident in her luxurious saloon, which was customized for her in 1869. The opulent space was removed in 1977 and can now be viewed in all its glory at the York Railway Museum.
