The surprising reason a senior royal never needs to travel with a passport.

There are a number of rules and protocols when it comes to King Charles’s air travel. But one thing he doesn’t have to worry about is remembering his passport.

As monarch, Charles is often required to fly to official engagements – he and Camilla are set to visit Australia and Samoa later this month. And while Camilla will need to have her travel documents to hand, Charles is able to travel freely without them. According to the royal family’s website , which has yet to be updated in full following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the British monarch does not need a passport for a simple reason – the documents are issued in their name.

“When travelling overseas, The Queen does not require a British passport,” it explains. “As a British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, it is unnecessary for The Queen to possess one. All other members of the Royal Family, including The Duke of Edinburgh [then Prince Philip ] and The Prince of Wales [then Prince Charles], have passports.”

It’s by no means the only travel rule that applies to the head of the Royal Family. Much like his mother before him, King Charles also has a supply of blood and a doctor with him at all times. In 2016, the Telegraph ‘s Gordon Rayner reported the late Queen would also travel alongside a Royal Navy doctor, who would research information about local hospitals, whenever she went on a world tour.

“In countries where a reliable blood supply is questionable, the Queen and the Prince of Wales both travel with their own personal packs of blood following in their convoy wherever they go,” he added. “Their doctor is never more than a few paces away, carrying a bulky medical bag containing a mobile defibrillator and all manner of emergency medicine.”

Another important travel rule has been established solely in order to protect the royal lineage. Heirs to the throne are prevented from flying together in case of a catastrophic plane crash. It ensures an heir is always protected and the monarchy remains stable. This restriction directly impacts those in line to the throne, and has included William, his father King Charles, and his grandmother, the late Queen. It will also affect Prince George, who is currently second in line.

Speaking on HELLO Magazine’s ‘A Right Royal Podcast’, King Charles ‘ former pilot, Graham Laurie, opened up about the rule and how it affected a young Prince William when he turned 12 in 1994. George will celebrate his 12th birthday in July 2025. He told the hosts: “Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry , up until 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. When William became 12, he would fly normally in a 125 from Northolt and we would fly the 146 out with the other three on.”