Prince George learning to fly at age 11 as proud parents William, Kate watched from the ground: report
By Nika Shakhnazarova,
2024-09-13
Up, up and away!
Prince George is already learning to fly a plane — despite being just 11 years old.
The future king took his first flying lesson this week, and the young royal reportedly “loved” his maiden flight on the White Waltham Airfield, located 30 miles outside of London.
Prince George is already learning to fly a plane — despite being just 11 years old. Getty Images
His parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, proudly watched on from the ground as George and his instructor took off from the runway, The Sun reports .
The pair returned to land safely just under an hour later, the outlet added.
The Prince and Princess of Wales brought George, their eldest son, to the airfield — 10 miles from their Windsor home — in a three-car convoy.
After the flight, the trio relaxed in the airfield’s clubhouse, sources told the outlet.
The future king, pictured in 2017, took his first flying lesson this week. Getty Images
“George is only 11 years old but it is the right time to start. The royal family has a proud tradition of flying and it looks like George is next in line,” an onlooker told the outlet.
“His parents watched George take flight from the safety of the ground but he flew with an instructor and loved it.”
Aspiring pilots in the UK can begin to build their skills at any age, however, training hours that count toward obtaining a license start at age 14.
Prince William is a trained helicopter pilot who had completed several Search and Rescue missions with the Royal Air Force. AP
Under 16s must be accompanied by an instructor, and pilots over the age of 17 can carry passengers if they’re licensed.
Should George continue with flying, he will follow in the footsteps of many royals.
His father, Prince William, is a trained helicopter pilot who had completed several Search and Rescue missions with the Royal Air Force.
William’s grandfather, the late Prince Phillip, trained at the same airfield.
Should George continue with flying, he will follow in the footsteps of many royals. Getty Images
Phillip was 31 when he kickstarted his flying training. In 1952, he began to train at the White Waltham Airfield before moving on to the North American Harvard.
For their part, William and his estranged brother Prince Harry were both in the Army Cadet Corps at Eton College.
The feuding brothers did not undergo flying lessons until they enlisted in the military.
In 2009, William kickstarted an intensive training program with the Royal Air Force during which he learned how to fly fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
William has even flown his family around before. In 2022, he took Princess Catherine and their three children to the Commonwealth Games.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are also proud parents to Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. via REUTERS
Earlier this week, the future king revealed that he “would love” to resume flying helicopters.
“I’d love to fly again, I could volunteer for a weekend to make a come back,” he said during a visit to the Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Wales.
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