Fans of the Royal Family have expressed their shock and confusion at Prince William seemingly breaking one of the biggest protocols with Prince George: flying together.
In a video posted on TikTok, Prince William appears to get off a helicopter alongside Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Snow falls all around the trio as their pet dogs jump around, and a man, who we assume is a member of security, leads the way. It’s unclear where the royals had come from or where they were headed, but George and Charlotte were both carrying large bags, so perhaps they were going to or from school.
Destination details aside, fans who saw the video couldn’t believe that Prince William and his son flew on the helicopter together. It’s a well-known fact that royal heirs are not permitted to fly together, be it on a plane or a helicopter, in case anything should happen that impacts the line of succession. It’s because of this rule that King Charles and Prince William are not permitted to travel together, and the then-Prince Charles was also restricted from travelling with his mother, the late Queen.
Everyone’s clicking on…
“I’m very shocked that Prince William flew with Prince George. Didn’t think they [were] allowed to fly together,” one royal fan said in response to the TikTok clip. “Thought they couldn’t fly together,” queried someone else. “It’s ridiculous. The next three in line to the British throne, all being in one helicopter,” another person said with much concern for the future of the monarchy.
Other fans suggested that the protocol has been relaxed to only include the current monarch and their direct heir. “They are allowed since William is not king yet,” one person said, adding: “Charles and William are the ones that do not fly together.”
Elsewhere, other fans (or, perhaps, critics) argued that the royals aren’t so fussed on tradition these days. “They don’t seem to care about protocol,” someone commented, to which another person replied: “I was thinking the same thing. They seem to do whatever they want.”
Related Stories
Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK’s freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.