Kate and Will are beaming as they meet staff in Soho ahead of the Coronation

On Saturday they are likely to travel by horse and carriage.

But today the Prince and Princess of Wales turned commuter as they hoped on the London Underground to work.

William and Kate travelled, naturally, on the Elizabeth Line from Acton Main Line station to Tottenham Court Road, the nearest stop to Soho, where they stopped off to pull pints and chat to hospitality staff at the Dog and Duck pub.

And during the royal mother-of-three, who recycled her Eponine coat for the occasion, admitted the family were still getting ‘all of the ducks’ in a row before the big event. 

Meanwhile they headed outside to meet with crowds of cheering royal fans, who greeted them with shouts of ‘We love you!’ before the couple posed for selfies with the crowd. 

Prince William appeared relaxed as he chatted with royal fans, telling one group who were discussing the newly opened Shambles Bar in Windsor: ‘I love a cocktail! Best not to do it before the Coronation but maybe afterwards!’ 

The couple boarded the train at Acton Main Line station, to the astonishment of some members of the public, who watched them through the ticket barriers and walk along the platform. 

It wasn’t the first time on the tube for either of the royals. In fact the Mail understands that the princess travelled incognito on it just this year. 

The prince and princess wanted to meet and thank Transport for London (TFL) workers who will be working throughout the coronation weekend.

After being handed their Oyster cards by an aide and welcomed to Acton station by Andy Lord, TFL’s commissioner, the couple met with Carinne Spinola, a train driver and Cameron Finch, a customer service assistant, and talked about their career aspirations.

Once on board the train, they sat with a group of TFL workers, including David Pearce, a fleet manager, Liam Grindley, a service and infrastructure manager and Maria Serco, a maintenance engineer.

Speaking about her conversation with Miss Spinola, Kate told the group: ‘It’s nice to meet a female train driver, obviously a profession women are keen on getting into.

‘She said the job was advertised on Mumsnet.’

It was the couple’s first trip on the Elizabeth Line, which the late Queen Elizabeth opened almost a year ago on May 17, 2022.

Royal aides said the couple do ‘occasionally’ travel by tube in a private capacity.

‘What’s the feedback you’ve been getting since it opened?’ William asked.

‘Everyone loves it,’ Mr Grindley told him, explaining how it had made many journeys across London shorter and easier.

‘And how green are we now,’ asked William, laughing. ‘You know I’ve got to ask that question!’

William heard how the line’s trains are electric, and how much of the earth that was dug up to build the line, was moved and re-used for a nature reserve. ‘It’s good, it clearly gets thought about now,’ he said.

Speaking to Miss Serco about the opening of the line last year, William said: ‘I can’t quite believe it has been nearly a year. It’s quite nice to get the chance to see it all, after my grandmother opened it.’

Asking the group which of them would be working this weekend, Kate asked: ‘Do you think there’s going to be extra pressure on the service during the coronation weekend? How do you manage that?’

One of the group then asked how the royal family’s preparations were going, and Kate replied: ‘Yes, it’s going to be a very busy time. We’re getting there. I still feel like we’re trying to get ducks in a row.’

After the short journey from Acton, via Paddington to Tottenham Court Road, the couple were presented with gifts by Mr Lord – a plaque tile of a TFL Roundel, or ‘Crowndle’ as Mr Lord described it, inscribed with ‘King Charles III,’ and a TFL roundel lightbox for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Dozens of stunned onlookers then rushed towards the escalator with their phones, to film the couple as they made their way up the escalator.

Speaking after the couple had left the station, Mr Lord said: ‘It was amazing to welcome them on their first visit on the Elizabeth Line. It’s coming up to the anniversary of the Queen opening it, and they were very impressed with it.’

Miss Serco said of William: ‘He was very interested in the technology, how we put the concrete in, the apprenticeships and training we offer. And I told him how much interest we’ve had from other countries around the world. It was really nice to thank them for all the royal family’s endorsement of the Elizabeth Line. We always knew we had their support. We feel the link to the royal family.’

Kensington Palace also invited tube and train enthusiast, Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke, to ride on the train with William and Kate as an observer.

He has more than a million followers on Instagram, and royal aides said it was hoped he might bring the experience to a ‘younger audience’.

William and Kate then walked through the streets of London to the Dog & Duck Pub to hear how it’s preparing for the coronation weekend from members of staff and to meet representatives from other hospitality and recreation businesses in the area.

The couple were served pints of cider – and Kate took a sip.

They were then accompanied by pub managers Chris Watts and Maria Sojkova behind the bar, where William poured a ‘perfect pint’, according to waitress Bernie Kidson.

It was the first pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to celebrate the coronation, ever poured.

The royal couple then left the Grade II listed building where they were met by hundreds of fans who lined the streets with calls of ‘we love you’.

People in the crowd travelled from as far as Australia, China, Canada and Texas to meet the royals ahead of the coronation on Saturday.

The princess was handed bunches of flowers, as was William, with one woman from Philadelphia saying: ‘I brought these for Kate but you can have them.’

Talking with local businessmen as he sipped a pint in the pub, William said: ‘You always have the best conversations in pubs – you never know who you are going to meet.’

He also joked that he would have to watch how much he drank and ‘get back into work mode’.

Kate meanwhile said their eldest child Prince George was ‘excited’ about the upcoming coronation and had been taking part in rehearsals.

She said the atmosphere in the area was ‘wonderful’ and that excitement for the coronation was ‘already starting to build’.

Kate was elegant as she recycled her bespoke Eponine coat for the outing, which she paired with her white midi dress from Suzannah. 

The mother-of-three stepped out in a bespoke vibrant coat from Eponine, which is price on application only. 

The London boutique is a favourite of the mother-of-three’s, who previously wore a £1,650 coat and a top and skirt costing £1,200 from the brand in 2016.

The Princess appeared animated as she arrived today, cutting a striking figure in a vibrant coat from London boutique Eponine.

The piece, which is from their Autumn/Winter 2018 collection, features a mandarin collar and pretty button detailing.

The thrifty royal wore the coat to visit the National Portrait Gallery last year to meet photographers featured in her Hold Still book as it topped the bestseller list on its first day. 

Meanwhile she paired the bright coat with her white midi length tea dress by Suzannah.

The Princess wore her long brunette locks down for the occasion, sweeping them behind her ear to reveal her Maria Black earrings.

Meanwhile she kept her makeup muted for the outing, pairing a sweep of eyeliner with a nude lipstick.

Yesterday, Prince William and Kate led the Royal Family in rehearsals for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey.

With just days to go until the historic event, the King was pictured beaming outside the church in central London as he arrived with the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, nine, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five. 

Princess Anne and Queen Consort Camilla were there to greet the Dean of Westminster and other church officials before they went inside. The royals were also joined by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

It comes after thousands of personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force marched from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey in the early hours of this morning as they practiced for the big day on Saturday, May 6.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach were also used in the full-scale rehearsal shortly after midnight.

Royal fans waited for more than three hours for the parade to make a return journey down the Mall. 

And commuters heading home from London Waterloo were treated to extraordinary scenes as they saw some 6,000 soldiers march through the station on their way to the rehearsals.

After the rehearsals, King Charles gave a wave to throngs of fans as he travelled back to Buckingham Palace.

Supporters cheered as his Bentley drove past. American fan Justin Klamerus, who has flown in for the Coronation from Atlanta, Georgia, told MailOnline: ‘Who would’ve thought that I would get to see the King of England so close?

‘I arrived on Monday I went straight to Windsor and did see really very much. 

‘But this was absolutely amazing. It’s an experience that I will remember forever, as I’m a big fan of the royal family, and that’s why I came here.’ 

‘I also saw Princess Anne going by earlier and as they say, great things always come along in twos! ‘

‘But I am here to witness history being made. I wish the King all the very best. I’m sure he’ll be a great ruler for Britain.’

Around 25 tents have been set up along the Mall by fans who are camping out for the Coronation. 

Among the first to take up position was careworker Lucy Edwards, 51, from Bristol, who will be joined by her 74-year-old mother Linda and teenage son Jacob tomorrow.

She said: ‘It has been very, very cold and the ground here is very hard to sleep on.

‘I have witnessed most of Charles’s life, his marriage, his divorce, and when he got married again. Now I’m here for the Coronation.

‘All of these events that made him the man that he is and he appears happy in his life. He is going to be a great King and bring the country together.’

Mother of five Sharon McEwan, 62, from Kilburn, said: ‘Hail King Charles. He is going to make the nation wonderful throughout his reign.

‘I am a regular at royal events and enjoy meeting the same people who love the royal family and meeting new people from all over the world. This will be a fantastic day.’

Faith Nicholson, 61, from Althorne, Essex, was draped in Union Jack colours and carried a Paddington Bear in honour of the Queen’s sketch with the character at her Platinum Jubilee last year. 

She said: ‘There is so much to celebrate about our Royal Family. They are loved the world over, and we will see that over the next few days.

‘They are the best advert for our country. You cannot fail to love them. And Charles will make a magnificent King with his sense of fair play, and he has been a pioneer in so many ways over things like environmental concerns.

‘I have been to all the major Royal occasions and they have provided such positive memories for me as Saturday will do too.

‘It is such an incredible thing to be among many thousands of people who have the same love for the Royal family. I can’t wait for Saturday. But I’ll be here until then. ‘