As he celebrates his 12th birthday, Prince George could be set to follow in his father’s footsteps and be impacted by a strict royal rule. However, the custom may prove to be a bone of contention for Prince William, a leading royal expert has said.
Members of the Royal Family have to follow a number of rules when they are travelling abroad. From bringing their own alcoholic drinks to avoid poisoning to always having a mourning outfit ready for sudden deaths, each protocol is hugely important. One of the most significant rules, though, is the fact that at the age of 12, royal children typically do not fly with their parents, so as to protect the line of succession in the event of an accident.
As Prince George could now be affected, why will the decision be difficult for his father?
“This is going to be a bit of a conundrum for William and will make long-haul flights very tricky,” former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively told the Express. “There will be a considerable amount of pressure on them to adhere to the rule, but I’m not convinced that he’ll stick to it rigidly.”
Referring to Prince William’s position as an eco-warrior and founder of the Earthshot Prize, Ms Bond added: “I suppose he could assuage his conscience by making sure they continue to all take scheduled flights, in which case their carbon footprint would remain the same.
“It’s really very awkward because, like any family, I’m sure they would always want to go on holiday together, including the travel. But it may be a compromise that William will have to make.”
It’s yet to be determined whether George will continue to jet off with mum Kate and his siblings, or if William will be the one taking solo flights.
On HELLO Magazine’s A Right Royal Podcast, King Charles’s ex-pilot, Graham Laurie, revealed how this rule impacted Prince William from the age of 12 in 1994.
He shared with listeners: “Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old.
“After that, he had to have a separate aircraft and we could only fly all four together when they were young with the written permission of Her Majesty. When William became 12, he would fly normally in a 125 from Northolt, and we would fly the 146 out with the other three on.”
This unique rule is in place to safeguard the line of succession. While the King can give permission to break this rule, it’s generally discouraged for two direct heirs to travel on the same flight.
This is because, in the unfortunate event of a crash, the monarchy would face instability.
Three members of the Royal Family have sadly lost their lives in air accidents in the past. Prince Philip’s sister, Princess Cecile, died in a crash in 1937, the late Queen’s uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent, died in 1942, and her cousin, Prince William of Gloucester, died while participating in an air show in 1972.