A long-standing royal travel rule will take effect later this year, requiring Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, to fly on separate planes. Once George turns 12 on July 22, 2025, royal protocol dictates that he and his father can no longer travel together by air.
This precaution is in place to protect the royal lineage. If an accident were to occur, the monarchy would avoid losing both the first and second in line to the throne at the same time.
A similar rule applied to Prince William as a child, meaning he has not flown with King Charles III since he turned 12 in 1994. While this protocol has existed for decades, it has not always been strictly followed in recent years.
Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have frequently travelled with all three of their children – George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – on the same flights. However, with George reaching this milestone, it is expected that the family will now adhere to the rule more closely.
A royal tradition rooted in safety
The royal travel protocol recently gained widespread attention after a TikTok video discussing the rule went viral. Many users debated its relevance in modern times, with some supporting the reasoning behind it, while others questioned its necessity.
One commenter explained, “Security. If they were both on the same plane and something terrible happened – then there wouldn’t be a successor.”
Another person pointed out that while the rule exists, William has not always followed it strictly: “It has always been royal protocol, however since William’s children were born the protocol hasn’t been followed and they fly with the kids.”
Some social media users related the rule to their own experiences, with one saying, “I always tell my brother not to fly on the same flight as his son. If anything happens, that’s his lineage gone, as he only made one son.”
Others were sceptical about the protocol, with one critic stating, “What a silly antiquated rule. They have a better chance of something happening to them crossing the street together.”
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Tragic events that shaped the rule
The royal family’s strict travel precautions are largely influenced by past aviation tragedies. Former royal pilot Graham Laurie discussed the rule during Hello! magazine’s ‘A Right Royal Podcast’.
“Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old,” Laurie revealed.
“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 [the late Queen Elizabeth II].
“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.”
The royal family has endured multiple air disasters over the years, reinforcing the importance of this tradition. In 1937, Prince Philip’s sister, Princess Cecile, died in a plane crash.
Prince George, Duke of Kent, lost his life in a similar tragedy in 1942. More recently, Prince William of Gloucester, Queen Elizabeth II‘s cousin, was killed in a plane crash during an air show in 1972.
As Prince George approaches his 12th birthday, this long-established royal practice will take effect, marking a significant shift in how he and Prince William travel.
While it may be an emotional change for the family, the rule remains a key part of preserving the royal lineage.