This month, when Prince George turns 12, he will travel as a royal in a way that is small but vital. There won’t be a major announcement or ceremony, but there is a long-standing royal custom that will keep him and Prince William apart on flights, especially official ones. This custom says that a direct successor to the throne can’t fly on the same plane as the monarch or the next in line until they reach 12, unless they acquire special permission. This means that George will soon have to travel alone from his father, Prince William, and even his younger brothers unless King Charles III decrees otherwise.
Some individuals might believe this rule is overly tight, but the Royal Family sees it as a way to keep themselves safe. The etiquette is founded on a great desire to keep the royal line of succession safe. If something terrible happened while traveling, the monarchy would lose a loved one and have a difficulty with leadership if a lot of heirs died at once. The goal is to keep more than one member of the line of succession from being in danger at the same time, especially when they are in high-ranking positions like Prince William and Prince George, who are first and second in line to the throne.
The approach itself is a few decades old and has been utilized on people from older generations. Prince Charles took his son Prince William flying when he was a child. But when he turned 12, he started flying alone, as the rule indicated he should. Queen Elizabeth II had to give her official consent for any exceptions to be made. This often meant family getaways or short, safe adventures. But the regulations were scrupulously followed during state visits and major royal festivities.
Graham Laurie, who used to be a pilot for the Royal Family and worked for them for many years, told us how this strategy worked in real life. He stated, “We flew all four of them: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William, and Prince Harry, until Prince William turned 12.” William had to take a different plane after that. We could only have all four of them together when they were tiny, and even then, we had to ask permission from the Queen. His anecdote shows how seriously the royal family takes even the little things concerning travel and how they make sure that the rules are obeyed, even if they have to keep it quiet.
Prince George will go through the same thing now that he reaches this age. It might not impact his daily life straight away, but it establishes a standard for future royal excursions, engagements, or tours. George would have to go on a different trip than Prince William if he went on a vacation abroad. He would definitely have to go with aides or security and maybe even take a different route or airline. The same is true for trips with Princess Charlotte, who is third in line but won’t have to follow this rule until she becomes 12.
It’s crucial to realize that the restriction doesn’t mean they can’t go anywhere together at all. King Charles might always offer them short breaks, especially for crises or occasions that aren’t official. The shift is more than just an issue of logistics; it’s a message. It reveals that Prince George is slowly but gradually becoming a royal heir in training instead of just a royal child. Everything he does now, from how he dresses in public to how he communicates to important people to how and when he travels, is getting him ready to be king one day.
This change will also provide George more freedom. He will still live with his family, who will keep him safe and show him the way, but he will start to act and do things like his father. He will learn how to do things on his own while still doing his royal responsibility. This is one of the first actual adult jobs he’s been given. He doesn’t get a crown or a chance to be seen in public; instead, he gets a quiet seat on a different plane.
This is just one of many behind-the-scenes things that assist keep the monarchy stable and running for the people. People may not know much about these rules, yet they are quite crucial for the long-term structure of royal life. This is another example of how the Royal Family has to find a balance between tradition and practicality in the modern world, where people are always watching and have high expectations.
When Prince George turns 13, the travel rule will be a new chapter in his life. He will have to go through a lot more transformations like this as the future king. He will take that first step by himself, silently, and without any fuss. He will cross a runway, board another jet, and then continue on his royal duties.