While we ordinary mortals book travel in the cheapest cabin, forever chasing savings, celebrities and the world’s powerful fly in the higher classes… Or perhaps not always. A curious insight into the travel of the British royals comes from the account of Helena Ford, a former British Airways flight attendant and a former contestant on Love Island.
During an interview on the Private Parts podcast, Ford recounted having had on board Prince William and Kate Middleton and revealed what, according to her experience, would be a particular protocol applied to their flights on commercial services: the Prince and Princess of Wales would not be able to occupy the highest cabin available on the plane.
The testimony drew attention precisely for the contrast between the couple’s status and a rule that, at least on paper, would imply they forgo the most exclusive class. Ford, however, did not present documents or indicate an official royal disposition: this is therefore a personal account, not a protocol formally confirmed by Kensington Palace.
No First Class for William and Kate
According to Helena Ford, the rule would be fairly straightforward: William and Kate would not be able to travel in the highest class present on the flight. If the aircraft offered First Class, the couple would thus have to settle in Business Class. In the event that First was not available and Business represented the top tier, they would instead travel in Traveller Plus, i.e. British Airways’ Premium Economy.
Ford recounted that she encountered the two royals precisely during one of these trips. On the plane in question there was First Class, but William and Kate would have occupied Business together with their security detail. According to her account, the entire Business cabin would have been reserved for the security men, while the couple would have traveled dressed in a deliberately inconspicuous way to attract less attention. The names used during the booking would also have differed from their real ones. The alleged First Class limit would, according to the testimony, also be tied to the issue of costs incurred with public funds.
William and Kate Already Photographed in First Class
There is, however, a documented precedent that seems to contradict the idea of an absolute ban. In November 2022, William and Kate flew with British Airways from London to Boston, where they were expected for the second Earthshot Prize, and were photographed precisely in the First Class cabin. The images and passenger testimonies confirmed that the couple had traveled in the plane’s most exclusive section. That choice also carried a particular significance: the princes had opted for a commercial flight rather than a private jet for their trip to the United States, as part of a mission closely linked to sustainability and the fight against climate change.
On other occasions too the royals have chosen to fly as ordinary passengers. Kate, for example, in 2022 was seen traveling in Economy with her children George, Charlotte and Louis on a trip to Scotland. For this reason, Ford’s revelation should be read mainly as testimony relating to specific journeys and not as an officially universal rule. The royals’ travel arrangements can, in fact, vary according to the destination, official duties, security, and circumstances.
