William, Kate’s unusual decision for Prince George surprises royal fans

Prince William and Princess Kate are widely regarded as exemplary representatives of the royal family, yet they have occasionally disregarded an important tradition in the past. 

Among the numerous regulations and protocols that govern the royals—such as restrictions on giving autographs, displaying public displays of affection, and obtaining permission to marry—one crucial rule pertains to their travel arrangements. 

Heirs to the throne are forbidden from flying together to safeguard the royal lineage. This rule applies to William, his father King Charles, and his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

This regulation also impacts Prince George, who currently stands second in line to the throne. Upon reaching the age of 12, he will not be permitted to travel alongside his father or his sister, Princess Charlotte. 

precautionary measure was instituted to mitigate the risk of potential plane crashes, thereby ensuring the protection of an heir to the throne and the stability of the monarchy.

Despite these protocols, Prince William and Princess Kate have occasionally breached this rule with the prior consent of Queen Elizabeth II. 

In 2014, for instance, the couple travelled with their then nine-month-old son George to both New Zealand and Australia, having obtained permission from the monarch due to the risk associated with two heirs traveling together. 

Prince William himself adhered to these regulations in his youth, traveling only with his family, including King Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Harry, until he reached the age of 12.

The King’s former pilot, Graham Laurie previously told OK! magazine: “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.”

It’s not the only travel rule the royals follow. According to Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, the royal planes usually fly with blood matched to the royal’s blood type. 

“[You’ve] got to make sure that you’re covering every eventuality,” he explained on Hello’s A Right Royal Podcast , “and the aircraft would carry blood in case there was blood transfusion. There’s never any guarantee you are going to get the right type of blood at your destination.”