When the young prince turns 12 in 2025, he will likely be required to follow a royal travel rule that has been in place for decades, according to The Mirror. The custom secures the future of the monarchy by restricting who can travel together on the same plane—and once an heir to the throne turns 12, he or she must fly separately from all the other heirs. Prince William, as well as his father King Charles III, had to adhere to the same protocol.
Prince George, the 10-year-old eldest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, is set to undergo a significant royal protocol change next year when he turns 11 on July 22. This milestone marks the beginning of preparations for a strict rule that will come into effect once he reaches the age of 12. Prince George may soon not be able to accompany his family on flights due to royal protocol.
Former royal pilot Graham Laurie spoke to A Right Royal Podcast about the change once Prince William turned 12 in 1994. “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,” he explained. “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.”
