Harry Potter were left disappointed yesterday (September 1) when an annual announcement at London King’s Cross railway station failed to materialise despite being told it was cancelled.
People gathered hoping to hear a message on the public address system that the fictional Hogwarts Express would depart from platform 9 ¾ at 11am.
The Back To Hogwarts tradition, which celebrates the start of each academic year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry every September 1, also previously saw the train service being displayed on departure boards, with hundreds of fans attending last year’s event.
Warner Bros, which runs a Potter shop at King’s Cross and owns the franchise, last week “strongly discouraged” fans from showing up and said this year’s theatrics were cancelled.
‘Harry Potter’ fans left disappointed after the annual Hogwarts announcement at King’s Cross Station in London didn’t go ahead.
Its cancelation this year had previously been announced and fans were “strongly discouraged” from gathering at the station. pic.twitter.com/mzga8clcd9
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 2, 2024
It said (via The Guardian): “Come 1st September, fans are strongly discouraged from travelling to King’s Cross as there will be no event, departure board or countdown at the station.
“Instead, everyone is invited to tune in and join proud Hufflepuff and king of the jungle, Sam Thompson, in a specially recorded online programme made in celebration of back to Hogwarts.”
Despite that, many still turned up at the station and boos rang out after the usual tannoy address and departure board listing failed to materialise.
No reason was given for the cancellation of the King’s Cross event and it is unclear whether it will be back next year.
Meanwhile, one of the child actors from the Harry Potter films recently revealed that the young extras on set were only paid £2.91 per hour.