Prince William, Kate Middleton Break Royal Protocol During Surprise Trip

Prince William and Kate Middleton just broke a royal rule during their most recent outing.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently took their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, on a surprise vacation. The family was spotted arriving at Heathrow Airport, where they appeared to have broken royal convention by traveling together, according to Marie Claire.

There’s a restriction prohibiting members of the royal family, especially heirs, from traveling in the same vehicle or plane. That way, if something goes wrong on the way, the rest of the lineage will be unaffected. (It’s for this reason that Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Prince William never arrive at the same time.)

It’s worth noting that there is one exception to the rule: asking Queen Elizabeth. The 95-year-old monarch has the authority to grant family members permission to fly together. This has been more common in recent years (particularly during the coronavirus pandemic), so it’s not completely unexpected. Her leniency, though, is unlikely to endure long.

Prince George (third in line to the monarchy)won’t be allowed to travel with his father, Prince William (second in line to the throne), once he turns 12. Because George is still considered a “child,” the queen is likely to make an exception, but that’s a topic for another day.

As per Purewow, unfortunately, no information regarding where Prince William and Kate Middleton are taking their children has been revealed by the royal family. However, they’re likely to document the trip on their combined social media page, so keep an eye out.