A centuries old royal tradition is now under fresh scrutiny as Prince George celebrates his 12th birthday, raising questions about whether King Charles will continue enforcing strict travel rules—or bend them for the modern age.
According to royal protocol, once Prince George reaches the age of 12, he is no longer permitted to travel on the same plane or in the same car as his father, Prince William. The reason is simple but steeped in royal logic—both are direct heirs to the throne, and this rule exists to protect the line of succession in case of an unexpected tragedy.
Prince William is the first in line, followed by his eldest son Prince George. With King Charles’s ongoing health concerns and advancing age, the stakes have never been higher for the preservation of the monarchy’s future.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that while this rule is not officially written into law, it is a long standing tradition followed by generations of royals. “Rules, such as not traveling by plane or car together, now that Prince George is 12, are unwritten but a tradition,” she explained.
“This ensures that the next in line and heir are not lost. It has, on occasion, been relaxed or bent,” Fordwich noted, suggesting that the rule is more flexible than many assume.
The flexibility may prove especially important now as the royal family continues to walk a delicate line between tradition and modern relevance. Prince William and Princess Catherine, often seen as the more relatable faces of the monarchy, have already reinterpreted several protocols in their quest to present a more modern family image.
“Prince William and Princess Catherine are adhering to many rules, especially those protecting the succession,” Fordwich said. “But to a certain extent, they’ve reinterpreted other rules, relaxing or even disregarding others, in an admirable attempt to become a more relatable modern family. Every royal generation has likewise updated traditions, thereby remaining relevant.”
That tension between tradition and modernization is now at the heart of the debate over whether King Charles will formally restrict joint travel for William and George moving forward.
The issue has taken on greater urgency as King Charles battles ongoing health issues, making it even more important to safeguard the next generations of royal leadership. Multiple reports have claimed that the monarch’s explicit permission is now required for William and George to travel together since George turned 12 on July 22.
So far, Buckingham Palace has not made any public statements on the matter, but royal insiders believe discussions are likely underway behind the scenes.
Royal watchers are split on how the king should proceed. Traditionalists argue that the rule is in place for a reason and must be respected to prevent a constitutional crisis in the unlikely event of an accident. Modern supporters, however, say the rule feels outdated in an era of advanced travel safety and evolving public expectations.
The public has long admired the strong family bond between William and his children, with George often seen accompanying his parents at major royal events. Any enforced separation during travel may feel unnatural for the young prince and could mark a difficult adjustment for both father and son.
The conversation also reflects a broader dilemma facing the royal family how much of its traditional foundation can be modernized without losing its identity? For King Charles, the decision may come down to balancing royal duty with the desire to allow his family to live as normally as possible under extraordinary circumstances.
Whatever the outcome, all eyes will be watching how the monarch handles this symbolic but meaningful moment in Prince George’s royal journey. One small decision could reveal just how far the modern royal family is willing to go in rewriting its own rulebook.
