Transport for London and HM Queen Elizabeth II
Let us take you on a journey of Queen Elizabeth II's involvement with the organisation throughout her life
Princesses go Underground (1939-06-01)TfL Corporate Archives
1939 - First Ride on a Tube Train
A young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret travel on London Underground for the first time. They journeyed from St. James's Park to Tottenham Court Road and back
They expressed a "great interest" in some of the features of the Underground
The Queen's Carriage (1953-06-01)TfL Corporate Archives
1953 - The Coronation
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne, and the organisation helped plan the significant historical event of her coronation the following year
Proposal by WHSmith for decoration (2053-01-12) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Stations were decorated and renovated and a special Coronation folder map and guide were produced
To the Coronation (1953-06-02)TfL Corporate Archives
Special Travel Arrangements
How We Got Them There (1953-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
How We Got Them There...
During nearly 24hrs of non-stop travel on Coronation Day, 10,000 train trips and 44,000 bus journeys were run into and out of Central London
London Transport Magazine: Victoria line opening (1969-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
1969 - Opening the Victoria line
Off to a Royal Start (1969-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Off to a Right Royal Start
"The Queen passed on with her coded ticket through the automatic gates and down the silver escalators to the brightly lit concourse"
The Queen's Speech (1969-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
This Great Effort
"I send my warmest congratulations on the completion of this remarkable work"
A colourful day for London's new tube (1969-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Airport Tube 'Wonderful New Amenity for London" (1978-01-06)TfL Corporate Archives
1977 - Opening the Piccadilly line Extension
The train makes a celebratory opening of the Heathrow extension with The Queen riding in the cab
Silver Jubilee Bus Carpet (1977-06-02)TfL Corporate Archives
1972 - Queen Elizabeth II - Silver Jubilee
A celebratory wool carpet was installed on special buses
The organisation marked the Queen's Silver Jubilee in numerous ways, including the commissioning of this new moquette
Royal Day in Docklands (1987-08-14)TfL Corporate Archives
1987 - Opening the Docklands Light Railway
The Queen at the front of the DLR (1987-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
2002 - Queen Elizabeth II - Golden Jubilee
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II made the front cover of the staff magazine On The Move, in recognition of her Golden Jubilee. The cover showed The Queen thanking London Underground staff at Uxbridge
Station Fit for a Queen (2010-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
2010 - Queen Elizabeth II visits Aldgate station
Queen Elizabeth II visited Aldgate tube station as part of a tour, where she met with and spoke to London Underground staff
The Queen visits Baker Street (2013-03-21)TfL Corporate Archives
2013 - Queen Elizabeth II visits Baker Street Station
in 2013, Queen Elizabeth II visited Baker Street station for the 150th anniversary of the first tube journey
Queen visits Crossrail Elizabeth line (2016-02-23)TfL Corporate Archives
2016 - Queen Elizabeth II unveils the new name
In 2016, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the new name for the Crossrail line being built at the time. It was to be called the Elizabeth line, named directly after her
The Queen visits an Elizabeth line station for the upcoming opening and tours station (2022-05-17)TfL Corporate Archives
2022 - Queen Elizabeth II opens the Elizabeth line
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Elizabeth line along HRH Prince Edward and TfL staff, including the Commissioner, Andy Byford
The Queen visits an Elizabeth line station for the upcoming opening and meets staff (2022-05-17)TfL Corporate Archives
Queen Elizabeth II Meets with Staff
Queen Elizabeth II visits Paddington station on the Elizabeth line wearing a yellow outfit, the direct complimentary colour for purple
The Queen visits an Elizabeth line station for the upcoming opening and unveils the plaque (2022-05-17)TfL Corporate Archives
Queen Elizabeth II unveils plaque
Queen Elizabeth unveils the official opening plaque of the Elizabeth line
Why not continue your royal journey by looking at our story on Royal Jubilees?
Story compiled by TfL from information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives.
The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
