Prince George will now be forced to be separated from Prince William and Princess Charlotte

Prince George is celebrating his 12th birthday today with his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

However, this milestone also marks the beginning of an important royal tradition that may soon separate George from his immediate family, particularly from his father and sister, as part of his preparation for his future role as king.

In royal tradition, once an heir turns 12, formal steps begin to prepare them for the throne. While Prince George is still far from being crowned, with both King Charles III and Prince William ahead of him in the line of succession, unexpected events can bring about sudden changes—like Queen Elizabeth II taking the throne at 25.

To ensure the safety and continuity of the monarchy, it is customary that heirs to the throne do not travel together. This precaution is to protect the royal line in the event of tragedies, such as plane crashes that have historically affected the royal family.

Prince William himself began following this rule at age 12, no longer flying with his father Charles or younger brother Harry. This separation minimizes risk to the direct line of succession.

Graham Laurie, King Charles’ former pilot, confirmed the tradition, explaining that once William turned 12, he had to travel separately unless written permission was granted by the monarch.

Though the rule isn’t officially documented, any deviation from it—such as William and George flying together—would still require approval from the reigning sovereign.