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. In the next two years, Prince George, 10, will also be affected by this rule and he will be expected to fly separately from his father.

According to long-standing royal protocol, two direct heirs to the throne are generally discouraged from traveling on the same aircraft to safeguard the line of succession in the event of an accident. As of July 2025, when Prince George celebrated his 12th birthday, this rule officially became applicable to him. Historical precedent, such as that set for Prince William when he turned 12 in 1994, suggests that George must now fly on a separate aircraft from his father, Prince William. While the reigning monarch (King Charles III) can grant written permission to override this rule—as was frequently done when George was younger—it is expected that the family will now more strictly adhere to this safety measure. This means that for official duties and potentially even private vacations, the family unit may divide into separate planes to ensure that both the first and second in line to the throne are not at risk during the same journey.