Prince George and Princess Charlotte to be 'separated' next year due to royal protocol

Princess Charlotte and brother Prince George are set to be separated next year. Royal protocol and tradition from over the years says that that heirs to the Royal Family throne shouldn't travel on the same flight from the age of 12.

It means from next year, 11-year-old George will not be permitted to travel with his parents and younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. Former royal pilot Graham Laurie previously told Hello!: "I know the King is trying to cut down cost and is aware of travel, but I think the safety side is still paramount."

"Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until when Prince William was 12 years old. 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.

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"What we did in the end, when William became 12, he would fly normally in a 125 from Northolt and we would fly the 146 or the Andover out with the other three on. Up until then, they probably thought it will be too much for him travelling on his own. But nevertheless, that's what they did."

He added: "Our aircraft were painted red, white and blue… but they changed the colour scheme in 2002 to look more like a normal airliner." When George turns 12 in 2025, he will likely be required to follow a royal travel rule that has been in place for decades.

There is an important royal custom in place to secure the future of the monarchy by restricting who can travel together on the same plane. All royals are required to travel with a black outfit just in case someone in the family were to pass away while they're abroad, too.