By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130130-charles-camilla-tube-640a.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)Chris Jackson / WPA Pool via Getty ImagesCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales travel on London's underground Metropolitan line on Wednesday. All forms of human life can be spotted traveling on London’s underground ‘Tube’ network, but there was a rare appearance Wednesday by Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla.
The heir to the throne made a journey on the system’s Metropolitan line to mark the 150th birthday of the Tube (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/09/16429205-150-years-old-and-still-running-late-londons-tube-celebrates-landmark-anniversary?lite).
Unlike most commuters on the creaking system, the Royal couple were able to find a seat for their one-stop journey, because the train was empty, according to BBC reporter Peter Hunt (https://twitter.com/BBCPeterHunt/status/296569717743816704).
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as the pair are formally known, traveled one stop westbound from Farringdon to Kings Cross.
It is the first time Charles has used the Tube in 33 years, according to the Daily Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/9836689/Charles-hops-on-the-tube-for-first-time-in-33-years.html). The last time was in April 1979 when he opened the first stage of the then-new Jubilee line.
The royals were presented with special commemorative Oyster swipe cards by staff to use to open turnstiles at each end of their journey.
The cards were each loaded electronically to the value of