Harry Potter and his sorcerer chums are regular users but today Platform Nine and Three-Quarters had a visit from two more unusual passengers – as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall waited at the mythical King’s Cross stop.
Their Royal Highnesses visited King’s Cross to see the £500million redevelopment project taking place at the station and to mark London Underground’s 150th anniversary.
As they toured the station this morning (Wednesday), Prince Charles and Camilla excited crowds by stopping off at the fictional platform, made famous as the departure platform for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films.
Jim Parkes, 29, official photographer at the Harry Potter landmark, greeted the Royal couple during their visit.
He said: “It was quite ridiculous actually, it took me by surprise because I didn’t know about it until about five minutes before and then I looked up and it was Prince Charles and Camilla!
“Camilla was a brilliant sport. I said to Prince Charles, ‘Would you like to have a shot?’
“But he said he’d had one done before!”
Earlier today, the couple took a Metropolitan Line Tube from Farringdon Station to King’s Cross, which was originally designed by the Duchess’ distant uncle (great, great, great) Lewis Cubitt.
After finding out about the development works at the historic station they made their way to the Royal Bentley for the short journey to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, re-opened in May 2011 after extensive renovation.
On arrival, they were taken on a tour of the Victorian hotel by historian Royden Stock, who gave them a brief history of the building, originally opened in 1873, which has been the scene of a Spice Girls music video and numerous Hollywood films.
For more photographs from today’s Royal visit, see the Ham&High’s picture gallery (above right).
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