Here's why Prince George won't be traveling with Princess Charlotte once he turns 12 despite close bond
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: If a recent video of the royal family is any indication, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 9, share a delightful and close bond. However, a strict royal protocol is set to separate the siblings next year.
Once Prince George turns 12 in July next year, he will no longer be able to travel with his younger sister. This rule is designed to protect the line of succession; should anything happen to Prince George, the heir to the British throne, while traveling, Princess Charlotte—who is third in line—would remain safe.
Prince George's travel restrictions echo Prince William's experience at age 12
This separation also means that Prince George won’t be traveling with his father, Prince William, who is second in line. Prince William experienced the same restriction at age 12, no longer flying with his father, King Charles III.
On HELLO Magazine's 'A Right Royal Podcast,' King Charles' former pilot, Graham Laurie, discussed how a specific rule began affecting Prince William in 1994 when he turned 12, according to OK!.
Laurie told 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," he added.
Royal travel protocols shaped by past aviation tragedies
There’s a possibility that King Charles might occasionally allow Prince George to travel with his dad and sister, though it remains uncertain who would accompany their mother, Kate Middleton, and their younger brother, Prince Louis, per the Mirror.
The idea of Prince George traveling completely separately from his family is indeed a somber thought.
Historically, the royal family has experienced tragedies involving aviation, with three members losing their lives in plane crashes.
This includes Princess Cecile, Prince Philip’s sister, who died in 1937, as well as two of the late Queen's relatives—her uncle Prince George in 1942 and her cousin Prince William in 1972.
James Middleton recalls a surprise family reunion with Kate and her kids
In a lighter moment, James Middleton, Kate’s brother, recently shared a sweet story in his upcoming memoir. One night, he and his wife, Alizee Thevenet, unexpectedly stayed over at his parents' house, only to find Kate, Prince William, and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—there too.
James recalled waking up to the sound of giggles and said that Alizee was playfully "bombarded with all kinds of cheeky questions at 100 miles per hour" from the young royals, capturing the joy and closeness among the siblings.
