Royal Watch News

Prince Philip's entertaining journey

Dec 21, 2012, 12:02 GMT

Prince Philip

Britain's Prince Philip kept himself entertained on a train journey yesterday (20.12.12) by reading a book about Attila the Hun.

The Duke of Edinburgh was seen clutching a copy of 'The End of Empire, Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome' as he boarded a train from London's King's Cross station with wife Queen Elizabeth for the start of the royal family's traditional stay at their Sandringham estate.

The book by Christopher Kelly tells how the savage warrior king ravaged Rome in the 5th century and would no doubt have kept Philip amused on the nearly two-hour journey.

While Philip had his book to read in the first class section of the First Capital Connect train, the queen was seen doing paperwork.

And it seemed their fellow passengers were impressed with the royal couple taking the standard train, although Buckingham Palace had booked out all 12 seats in the first class section.

One told The Sun newspaper: 'It is amazing to think we shared a train with the Queen and Philip. I had no idea they were on board until the train stopped.'

Over the weekend the couple will be joined by various members of the royal family to celebrate the festive period.