Prince Harry Records Message for Thomas the Tank Engine by Associated Press, Adapted by Newsela Staff on 05.12.20 Word Count 527 Level 830L

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Prince Harry records message for Thomas the Tank Engine By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.12.20 Word Count 527 Level 830L

Britain's Prince Harry records his introduction to the new animated special "Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine" in January 2020. Set when Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, was a boy, Thomas has to take Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway, to Buckingham Palace to receive an honor. Photo: Dave Poultney/Mattel via AP

Prince Harry of the British royal family has recorded a special video. It celebrates the 75th anniversary of a favorite children's book. The book is titled "Thomas the Tank Engine," and its main character is a train engine.

Prince Harry introduces a new program called "Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine." The story includes Harry's father and grandmother, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, as animated characters.

Harry's Fond Memories Of Thomas

The story is set when Prince Charles was a boy. Sir Topham Hatt is in charge of the trains. He needs to get to Buckingham Palace in London to receive an honor. The story shows the friendly train Thomas taking Sir Topham to London.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Prince Harry's introduction was recorded in January before he moved overseas. In it, he sits in an armchair, reading from a book about the train's adventures.

In a statement, Prince Harry said he has fond memories of growing up with Thomas and Friends. He remembers "being transported to new places" through the train's adventures.

Thomas has been a "familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years," he said. Prince Harry added that the stories are entertaining. Also, they educate and inspire children about important issues, he said.

No Longer Royals

Prince Harry is also known as the Duke of Sussex. Two years ago, he married American actress Meghan Markle, and she became the Duchess of Sussex. In January, the two announced their plan to quit being working royals. They would become financially independent and move to North America.

The split became official at the end of March. The couple is currently in California, where Meghan was raised.

Proof of Prince Harry's love for the children's story can be seen in photos. On his first day of nursery school in 1987, he carried a Thomas the Tank Engine bag.

Thomas The Tank Engine Debuted In 1946

The Reverend Wilbert Awdry released the first book in "The Railway Series" 75 years ago. It was created as a bedtime story for his son, Christopher, who had the measles.

The brave blue tank engine doesn't appear in the first story. He got his own illustrated book in 1946 called "Thomas the Tank Engine." He quickly took over from Edward, Gordon and Henry — characters in the first book — as everyone's favorite.

The train tales were turned into a stop-motion animation series in the 1980s. Stop-motion is a way of making films that involves moving objects just a little at a time and taking photos of them. The end product makes the objects look like they are moving. The train series started being created on computers in 2009. "Thomas and Friends" is owned by Mattel, the toy company, and is on the air in over 160 countries.

British actress Rosamund Pike is also onboard "Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine." She voices a new character, an important train called the Duchess of Loughborough.

The show aired on Netflix in the United States on May 1. Channel 5′s "Milkshake" show aired it in the U.K. on May 2, and it will be seen in Canada and Australia later in May.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the following paragraph from the section “Thomas The Tank Engine Debuted In 1946.”

Which of the following is an accurate explanation of what this paragraph means?

(A) The "Thomas the Tank Engine" television series was originally created with stop-motion animation but is now made using computer technology.

(B) Many fans were disappointed when the "Thomas the Tank Engine" television series stopped using stop- motion animation.

(D) Because Mattel owned "Thomas and Friends," the "Thomas the Tank Engine" series can be viewed in more than 160 different countries.

2 Read the section “No Longer Royals.”

Which sentence from the section shows WHY Prince Harry is no longer a working member of the royal family?

(A) Prince Harry is also known as the Duke of Sussex.

(B) Two years ago, he married American actress Meghan Markle, and she became the Duchess of Sussex.

(D) The couple is currently in California, where Meghan was raised.

3 What is the relationship between the royal family and "Thomas the Tank Engine"?

(A) Members of the royal family are characters in the most recent book.

(B) The first "Thomas the Tank Engine" book was written for the queen.

(D) Prince Harry and Meghan read the books to their children.

4 What effect did "Thomas the Tank Engine" have on Sir Topham Hatt ?

(A) "Thomas the Tank Engine" made Sir Topham Hatt late for a meeting.

(B) "Thomas the Tank Engine" was written for Sir Topham Hatt.

(D) "Thomas the Tank Engine" inspired Sir Topham Hatt to write books.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Answer Key