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Prince Harry said he has “fond memories” of growing up watching Thomas & Friends as he filmed an introduction to a special episode of the animated show, in which the Queen and a young Prince of Wales also feature as characters.

Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine is part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the story series, which was created by British clergyman the Rev Wilbert Awdry as a storybook for his young son.

Narrators of the spin off TV show, which started in the 1980s, include Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, and actors Alec Baldwin and Pierce Brosnan.

This new episode will see Thomas travel to London for the first time on a mission to take Fat Controller Sir Topham Hatt to Buckingham Palace.

Harry filmed the on-camera introduction to the episode, pre-lockdown in January, holding a copy of the book – and a donation was made to charity.

“Thomas the Tank Engine has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years – entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters,” he said. 

“I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have both been busy recording – Meghan has lent her voice to a new nature documentary on the streaming platform Disney+ in exchange for a donation to the charity Elephants Without Borders.

In the 22-minute special, Sir Topham Hatt has been invited to London to receive an award from the Queen for distinguished services to the railway, and a young Charles asks Thomas to bring him. Thomas gets lost along the way and meets the royal train, called the Duchess of Loughborough, voiced by Gone Girl and Bond actress Rosamund Pike.

The special episode will be on Milkshake! on Channel 5 at 9.05am on May 2 and will stream on Netflix in the US on May 1.