> At a Glance
> – Two leased AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters logged 58,000 miles since February 2025
> – Princess Anne and Prince William are the most frequent users
> – King Charles remains “pretty allergic” to helicopter travel
> – Why it matters: The royal family’s travel choices balance efficiency, safety protocols, and environmental concerns
Buckingham Palace is defending the royal family’s heavy helicopter use after flight data revealed the two new aircraft have flown the equivalent of twice around the Earth in just nine months.
The Numbers Behind the Flights
Between late February and November 2025, the helicopters completed 420 hours of flight time across 58,000 miles. The data shows Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park home was the most visited destination with 68 stops, while Prince William accounted for 52 trips between Windsor and his family’s new residence at Forest Lodge.
The palace leased the two new helicopters in June 2024 to replace 15-year-old Sikorsky aircraft, with both Princess Anne and Prince William making extensive use of the upgraded fleet.
Why Helicopters Over Other Transport
A palace spokesman explained the logistical reasoning:
> “Helicopters are a key component of the royal travel plan due to their unique capability to access remote regions of the U.K., which are not otherwise readily served by other modes of transport. They also allow members of the Royal family to undertake multiple engagements in a given day.”
The Princess of Wales has used the helicopters for both solo engagements and joint duties with Prince William throughout 2025.
The King’s Helicopter Hesitation
Despite the convenience, King Charles remains skeptical about helicopter travel. The palace acknowledged the 77-year-old monarch is “pretty allergic” to using helicopters and would “raise an eyebrow” when their use was suggested.
The King’s concerns extend beyond personal preference. According to the biography Catherine, the Princess of Wales, King Charles and Prince William had a disagreement about the safety of William flying his family by helicopter. After Charles announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024, he reportedly presented William with “a formal document acknowledging the risks involved and taking full responsibility for his actions.”
Royal Travel Protocols
The royal family’s helicopter use is governed by long-standing safety protocols:
- Direct heirs traditionally don’t travel together
- Queen Elizabeth previously requested Prince William not fly with his family to their Norfolk home
- Permission was required for Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince William, and Prince Harry to fly together after William turned 12
Public Engagement
The helicopters occasionally provide unexpected educational opportunities. In September, Princess Anne gave students at Merchant Taylors’ Schools an impromptu tour of her helicopter after landing nearby, creating what the school called “a royal treat for Year 6.”
Key Takeaways
- The royal family’s two new helicopters have flown 58,000 miles in nine months
- Princess Anne and Prince William are the primary users
- King Charles avoids helicopters due to safety concerns
- Helicopters enable multiple daily engagements across remote U.K. locations
- Royal travel protocols balance efficiency with succession safety
The royal family’s helicopter strategy reflects the ongoing challenge of modernizing royal duties while maintaining traditional safety protocols and managing public expectations about their environmental impact.
