The rules within the British royal family aren’t always written down, but there are certain guidelines that have been followed for generations. One of them advises that a monarch and their heir should not travel together in the same mode of transport to ensure the continuity of the line of succession in case of an accident. However, during their recent family trip to the Caribbean, Prince William and Princess Catherine decided to ignore this rule. Taking advantage of their children’s school holidays, the couple flew with George, Charlotte, and Louis to the exclusive island of Mustique. The family traveled together on the same plane, which has historically been avoided by future monarchs to ensure the safety of the line of succession.

This decision has sparked controversy. In the event of an unforeseen incident, the line of succession would change drastically, with Prince Harry and his eldest son Archie taking the top spots in the list of heirs to the throne. According to a source close to the Wales family, they flew from London to St. Lucia and then took another flight to Mustique, with both William and George traveling on the same plane. This unwritten rule is designed to maintain the stability of the monarchy, although fewer and fewer royals follow this recommendation. For example, in Denmark, this rule still applies when the royal family travels, with King Frederik X traveling with Princess Isabella and Prince Vincent, while Queen Mary flies with her heir, Prince Christian, and Princess Josephine.

In Spain, King Felipe VI has traveled on several occasions with Princess Leonor in the same vehicle, disregarding this old guideline. Prince William and Catherine’s case shows that the British monarchy is also leaving some of these practices behind. The royal family has opted for practicality and comfort, prioritizing traveling together as a united family. The debate continues, with some arguing that they should have taken precautions, while others view this as a sign of modernization within the British royal house.

Royal author Tom Quinn sheds light on the rigid and often trivial traditions within the royal family. He points out that many rules seem pointless and exist only to maintain status among senior royals. He adds that the royals are very sensitive—if one gets a gold pen or a new car, the others want one too.

William and Catherine’s love story began in 2002. After more than two decades together, Catherine knows exactly how to keep William on his toes, often poking fun at his royal lineage, sometimes comparing him to his great-great-great-grandfather Edward VII. In a particularly cheeky jab, she teases him about the fact that his stepmother, Queen Camilla, is descended from Edward VII’s favorite mistress. While few would dare make such jokes at William’s expense, Catherine has earned that privilege. William reportedly takes it in stride, knowing that his wife’s quips come from a place of love.

Earlier this week, Catherine, impeccable in green, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with the Welsh Guards in London, fulfilling her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards with warmth and approachability. Beyond the military pageantry, the event left a juicy anecdote: Catherine talked about William’s beard. Yes, the very beard he has proudly worn since August 2024, which, to the surprise of many, seems to have become more than just a passing trend. William has been spotted with it at important events, sparking debate among admirers and critics alike.

To many’s surprise, it seems Princess Catherine is not entirely convinced that the beard is here to stay. During a Guinness toast after the event, Catherine made a comment that left people wondering: “These trends come and go. I was saying to my husband, I’m not sure how long he’s going to keep his.” A simple but telling statement—does this mean Catherine is not a fan of the beard? According to Jason N., former assistant to the Prince and Princess of Wales, not only is the princess not displeased with the beard, she actually likes it. Jason went so far as to claim that if Catherine didn’t approve of the beard, William wouldn’t have grown it in the first place. So what’s the point of Catherine’s remark? Perhaps she’s just teasing her husband, or maybe she has inside information about William’s shaving plans. What’s certain is that, regardless of Catherine’s opinion, William’s beard has become a recurring topic of conversation.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Prince William with a beard. He briefly sported one during the Christmas holidays in 2008. However, unlike his brother Harry, who has made the beard his trademark since 2015, William had never fully committed to the look.