When it comes to the British royal family’s travels, many people imagine luxurious private jets, exclusive terminals and the highest level of comfort. In reality, however, that is not always the case.

Here are the rules Prince William and his wife Catherine follow when travelling by air.

Heirs to the throne should not fly on the same aircraft

The royal family has a long-standing tradition of advising direct heirs to the throne against travelling on the same aircraft. The rule is rooted in security concerns and the need to safeguard the line of succession.

It is particularly relevant to William. He is first in line to the throne after his father, King Charles III, while his eldest son, George, is next in line after him.

However, this is not an absolute ban. In certain circumstances, members of the royal family may be granted permission to travel together. This is why William and Catherine have flown with their children on numerous occasions.

They do not choose the highest travel class

When taking commercial flights, the royal couple are not supposed to book the highest class available. If the aircraft offers first class, they travel in business class. If there is no first class, they opt for premium economy.

That does not mean they never fly economy. In 2019, for example, William, Catherine and their three children took a budget Flybe flight from Norwich to Aberdeen.

Economy class is therefore not out of the question. The rule applies specifically when several travel classes are available: the royal couple are not expected to occupy the most expensive one.

They must always pack black clothing

When travelling abroad, members of the British royal family must always carry a set of black clothing in their luggage.

The tradition dates back to an incident in 1952. At the time, 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth — the future Queen Elizabeth II — was in Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip. They had arrived on January 31 as part of an official tour.

On February 6, Elizabeth received the news that her father, King George VI, had died. At that moment, she became the new Queen of the United Kingdom. The couple immediately cut their trip short and began their journey home.

However, the princess had no black clothing in her luggage that she could wear when appearing in public. A suitable outfit therefore had to be urgently delivered directly to the aircraft, and Elizabeth changed during the flight.

Ever since, a set of black clothing has been considered an essential part of every royal family member’s luggage when travelling abroad, in case of an unforeseen event.

They sometimes travel under assumed names

There is another, less obvious detail to royal air travel: William and Catherine may use assumed names when travelling on commercial flights.

This helps them attract less attention and travel more discreetly. Remaining completely unnoticed, however, is difficult. The couple are always accompanied by security personnel, and their presence at an airport can quickly draw the attention of other passengers.

Royal status, therefore, does not mean that William and Catherine take a private jet for every journey. They may travel on an ordinary commercial flight, but even then, they must follow security rules and royal protocol.

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