close
close

Harry Potter fans boo as countdown to return to Hogwarts ends in disappointment at King's Cross | UK News

Harry Potter fans who gathered at King's Cross in hopes of seeing the annual Hogwarts Express announcement were disappointed.

There were boos after the usual speech over the loudspeaker and the listing of the departure boards were omitted.

The event typically attracts hundreds of fans – many in costumes – to celebrate the start of the semester at the fictional wizarding school.

The Hogwarts Express famously departs from the hidden platform 9 3/4 and the London station is a major attraction for fans.

Warner Brothers operates a potter The King's Cross store, which also owns the franchise, last week “strongly advised” fans not to come and said this year's theatre performances were cancelled.

X

This content is provided by Xthat may use cookies and other technologies. In order to show you this content, we need your consent to the use of cookies. You can use the buttons below to change your settings and X Allow cookies or allow them only once. You can change your settings at any time via the privacy settings.

Unfortunately, we could not verify whether you have agreed X Cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow X Cookies only for this session.

Enable cookies Allow cookies once

However, many either did not understand the message or showed up anyway.

Telephones were placed on the departure board and there was an enthusiastic countdown to 11:00 a.m.

But it was all in vain, and after a hopeful silence, isolated boos and jeers spread through the crowd.

The King and Queen visit the Platform 9 3/4 sign at King's Cross in 2013. Image: PA
Picture:
The King and Queen visit the Platform 9 3/4 sign at King's Cross in 2013 – a place that has become a major attraction for fans around the world. Image: PA

Read more at Sky News:
Adele withdraws “for an incredibly long time”
“Dawson's Creek” star dies at the age of 51

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

No reason was given for the cancellation of the King's Cross event and it is unclear whether it will take place again next year.

However, other “Back to Hogwarts” events took place, including some online and at Grand Central Station in New York, where Bonnie Wright, aka Ginny Weasley, made an appearance.

You may also like...