Next year, Prince George will celebrate his twelfth birthday. By Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Once the second-in-line to the throne reaches the age of twelve, they are required under an odd etiquette that the monarchy has previously established to travel independently of the current heir.
This was put in place to ensure that only certain members of the royal family might share flights in the event of an emergency, thereby protecting the succession to the monarchy.
The former pilot of King Charles, Graham Laurie, discussed the effects of this regulation on Prince William beginning in 1994, when he was twelve years old, in an interview with OK! Magazine.
Laurie said on the HELLO Magazine’s A Right Royal Podcast that they flew all four royal children—Prince Harry, Princess Meghan, Prince William, and Prince William—until Prince William was twelve years old.
