As Prince George’s 12th birthday approaches, reports suggest that Prince William is beginning to feel the pressure—especially when it comes to a long-standing royal rule that will soon affect his eldest son.

A Big Birthday with Bigger Implications

George, the firstborn child of Prince William and Princess Kate, will turn 12 on July 22. His younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, recently celebrated their own birthdays—Charlotte turned 10 in May and Louis turned seven in April.

But George’s birthday this year holds a deeper significance. As heir presumptive to the throne after his father, certain royal customs will now start to apply to him—customs intended to prepare him for a possible future as monarch, no matter how distant that might be.

Tradition That Comes with Responsibility

Though it’s hoped that both King Charles III and Prince William remain in good health for many years to come, royal tradition requires that contingency plans be in place for any unexpected events.

One of these long-held customs is the travel separation rule. Once a royal heir reaches age 12, protocol dictates that they should no longer travel with the next in line to the throne—typically for safety and succession reasons.

This measure is designed to protect the royal lineage in case of a disaster, like a plane crash, ensuring that at least one heir to the throne remains safe and the monarchy remains intact.

Flying Separately: A Difficult Change for a Close-Knit Family

According to royal expert Jennie Bond, this rule most likely applies only to air travel rather than all forms of transportation.

“This is a rule which I think applies only to flying, not to other methods of transport,” she told The Mirror. “Nevertheless, it’s going to be rather annoying for the family because they are such a tight little unit and obviously enjoy travelling together.”

She went on to add, “However, I think there will be pressure on William to stick to this rule—at least most of the time. It’s all to do with protecting the succession to the throne.”

Helping George Understand the Change

Bond acknowledged that this tradition could be tough for a 12-year-old to accept. Still, she believes Prince William and Princess Kate will handle the matter thoughtfully.

“It must be quite hard for a 12-year-old to accept,” she said. “But I’m sure Kate and Will will explain the situation as gently as possible to all three children.”

That said, the expert doesn’t believe George will be sent off flying entirely on his own. A more likely solution would be for the family to split into groups—perhaps with George flying with Kate, while William takes Charlotte and Louis.

Will the Rule Be Followed—or Broken?

Though tradition suggests the separation rule should now kick in, there’s always a chance William could choose to overlook it.

Still, until the family makes their next travel plans public, we’ll have to wait and see how—or if—the rule is enforced.