Prince William and Kate Middleton are seen as the ideal representatives for the Royal Family , but that hasn't stopped them from breaking a significant rule in the past .
The royals have to follow numerous rules and guidelines - they can't give autographs, engage in public displays of affection, and must seek approval to get married. Another crucial rule revolves around their travel.
Heirs to the throne are not allowed to fly together to protect the royal lineage. This rule directly affects those in line to the throne, including William and his son Prince George , who is currently second in line. From the age of 12, he will no longer able to travel with his father.
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The tradition was established to protect an heir to the throne in case of a plane crash, ensuring the monarchy's stability. However, William and Kate have been known to break this rule on several occasions, but only with the permission of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2014, the couple flew with their then nine-month-old son George to both New Zealand and Australia. It was reported at the time they needed permission from the monarch due to the risk of two heirs to the throne traveling together.
William was bound by the same travel regulation as his son and didn't travel alone until age 12. With the family, which included King Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Harry, they were inseparable on flights, King Charles' former aviator Graham Laurie told OK! magazine. "We flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old," he explained.
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"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," Laurie added.
It's not just travel rules the royals have to follow, as Dickie Arbiter, the former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, noted: Royal planes are stocked with blood types matching their passengers. On Hello's A Right Royal Podcast, he elaborated, "[You've] got to make sure that you're covering every eventuality and the aircraft would carry blood in case there was blood transfusion. There's never any guarantee you are going to get the right type of blood at your destination."
In addition to blood, there are other medical considerations. In 2016, Gordon Rayner of the Telegraph reported that a Royal Navy doctor would accompany the Queen on her world tours, researching local hospitals. "In countries where a reliable blood supply is questionable, the Queen and the Prince of Wales both travel with their own personal packs of blood following in their convoy wherever they go," he added. "Their doctor is never more than a few paces away, carrying a bulky medical bag containing a mobile defibrillator and all manner of emergency medicine."
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