Does the Queen have an Oyster card?

The 96-year-old was given an Oyster card at Paddington station, and shown how to use it on the ticket machine by staff. The monarch was accompanied by Prince Edward, her youngest son.



While the late Queen Elizabeth II was famously presented with a commemorative Oyster card on at least two occasions—once in 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee and again in 2022 for the opening of the Elizabeth Line—she did not actually "have" or use one for personal travel. During the 2022 ceremony at Paddington Station, she was shown how to use the card on a ticket machine and it was pre-loaded with £5 of credit. However, as a monarch, she traveled via a private Royal Train, a fleet of helicopters (The King’s Helicopter Flight), or the State Bentleys. The presentation was purely symbolic, highlighting her support for London's transport infrastructure. Similarly, King Charles III and the current Queen Camilla are often presented with commemorative travel passes during official visits, but they do not use them for public transit, as their security protocols require private, secure transportation.

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Yes, Oyster cards are accepted for most journeys, except for stations west of West Drayton. Contactless payment cards are accepted at all stations on the Elizabeth line, or if you use an Oyster card, you can buy a paper ticket if you're travelling beyond West Drayton.

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You can get an Oyster card:
  1. Online with a contactless and Oyster account, if you live in the UK.
  2. At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London.
  3. At all Tube, most London Overground and most Elizabeth line stations.
  4. Some DLR stations.
  5. At Visitor Centres.
  6. At the Tramlink Shop in Croydon.


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A total of 1.2 million of the new cards will be issued, but they could run out quickly as some are likely to grab one as a souvenir. As with all Oyster cards, they will cost a £5 deposit plus any credit added to cover the cost of journeys.

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If you plan to stay in London for a couple of days and make two to four journeys a day, or want to travel to the outskirts of the city, then a Visitor Oyster card* may be the cheapest option. It is delivered to your home by post before you arrive in London, saving you time when you arrive.

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You can add money to an Oyster card or use contactless (card or device) straight away. You only pay for the journeys you make and it's cheaper than buying a paper single or return ticket (train companies may offer special deals on some journeys).

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The most convenient places to buy an Oyster card are Underground stations across London, including Heathrow airport. You can buy one using either cash or your credit/debit card. Although there are a few manned ticket offices in London, the likelihood is that you will buy an Oyster card from a ticket machine.

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Travel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person's Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.

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The Elizabeth line is open through central London, connecting all the way across the capital from Heathrow Airport and Reading to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. Trains run seven days a week, from early morning to late evening. You can use your Oyster or contactless payment card for most journeys on the Elizabeth line.

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Non-UK residents can buy Visitor Oyster cards* before arriving in London, and they are ready to use immediately, so you save time. Standard Oyster cards cost £5 (refundable) and can be purchased on arrival and loaded with credit.

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Supports cash: If you want to pay for your transport in London using cash, you can buy and top up an Oyster card with cash. This is normally a lot more cost effective than paying for a cash ticket, with the rare exception of a one-off single journey as you have to consider the cost of the Oyster card.

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Never expires: You can stash your Oyster card for your next trip and, even if it is many years later, it will still work. All you need to do is top up when you're there and you're ready to go!

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Cons: A £7 cost applies when you get a standard or visitor card. You'll need to top it up in advance of travel. You can't use an Oyster card at any station between Reading and Iver.

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You can get an Oyster card:
  • Online with a contactless and Oyster account, if you live in the UK.
  • At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London.
  • At all Tube, most London Overground and most Elizabeth line stations.
  • Some DLR stations.
  • At Visitor Centres.
  • At the Tramlink Shop in Croydon.


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Ticket and fares Travel on the Elizabeth line costs £12.80 at all times of the day, for a journey to or from Heathrow airport, where that journey starts, ends or goes through Zone 1. Single journey tickets and Zones 1-6 Travelcards can be purchased from airport station ticket machines.

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