Royalty have visited Slough many times to meet the people, just as the Queen did in 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, but many members of the Royal Family have often passed through Slough on the way to Windsor.

If royalty wanted to visit Windsor Castle or the royal school at Eton during the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries, the easiest route would be to travel from Paddington to Slough, and then by road to Windsor. In the early nineteenth century, Slough Station even had a "royal waiting room". Windsor has never had a direct fast train service to London. Even the process of linking Windsor by rail to London with any kind of service was delayed by the influential Dean of Eton School, who believed that the possibility of a quick trip to the capital would bring temptation and corruption to his pupils.

Prince Albert frequently passed through Slough on his way to London, sometimes secretly. It took him four years before he could persuade the sceptical Queen Victoria to use the route for the first time. Other famous passengers included General Garibaldi, George V and Queen Alexandria and the Empress of Austria. When the Duke of Gloucester, the third son of George V, went to Eton for his first term just before the First World War, he was met by a royal brougham at Slough.

Queen Victoria visited Slough on Wednesday 23rd June 1897, on the way to Windsor Castle from London. Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked 60 years of her reign. People from all around Slough, and Londoners who had not managed to see her on Jubilee Day crowded the streets of Slough, and the road between Slough and Eton.

'Many of the country people had brought their carts and wagons with them, and when stern Metropolitan policemen, of whom nearly a thousand had been brought down especially for the occasion, refused to allow them to remain on the road, they drew them into the adjoining fields. This proved rather a blessing in the end, because the wagons when placed close beside the hedge formed "grand stands," from which the occupants obtained an excellent view of the Queen.'
The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer, 26th June 1897

Perhaps the most colourful occasions were when the newly crowned, George V & George VI travelled to Windsor for the first time as monarchs in 1911 & 1937 respectively. As can be seen from the extract from the 1911 Slough Observer, Slough was awash with colour:

"Every building, however humble, had put forth some sign of general rejoicing …… it was generally agreed that Slough had surpassed both Eton and Windsor in decorative arts".

The royal party arrived at a highly decorated Slough Station and was greeted by the banker, Lord Rothschild, in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. The route of the procession was covered with people, including 2450 children and their teachers. After a number of speeches and an inspection of army veterans, the newly crowned King and Queen made their way to Eton and then Windsor. At both Windsor and Eton there were more speeches, ringing of church bells, children's activities, and the day finished with a torch-lit procession and fireworks.