Prince George learns to fly aged 11 as he pilots his first plane, report says

STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 2230HRS FRIDAY 21ST JULY Copyright in the photograph is vested in The Prince and Princess of Wales. Publications are asked to credit the photograph to Millie Pilkington. The photograph is being made available by way of license on condition that: a) The photograph shall be solely used for news editorial purposes only. It shall not be approved for souvenirs, or memorabilia; or anything colourably similar. b) No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. c) There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. d) The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. e) The photograph shall not be used after 31st December 2023, without prior permission from Kensington Palace. 3. Any questions relating to the use of the photograph should be first referred to Kensington Palace and before publication. Undated handout photo issued by Kensington Palace of Prince George ahead of his tenth birthday. The photograph was taken in Windsor earlier this month by Millie Pilkington. Issue date: Friday July 21, 2023.
The future King was seen flying above White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead, Berkshire on Friday Credit: PA

Prince George is learning to fly at just 11 years old after he completed his first flight on the last day of his summer holidays, The Sun reports.

The future King was seen flying above White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead, Berkshire on Friday where his parents came to watch.

He had his lesson in a single-engine Piper PA-28 with dual controls designed for novice pilots.

Several onlookers watched Prince George in flight, one of whom told the Sun: “He loved it. It’s the right time to start. The royal family has a proud tradition of flying and it looks like George is next in line."

Another person present at the airfield said: “There were probably 30 or 40 people in the clubhouse. Catherine and William watched George take off. But they were relaxed about it. All three of them had been pretty chilled in the clubhouse.”


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William and Kate, both 42, had arrived in a three-car convoy to the airfield where George’s great-grandfather, Prince Philip, trained, The Sun reports.

Flying has been a longstanding tradition among the Royal Family, although Prince George has started to learn much earlier than his father and grandfather.

Prince William stepped down from his duties as an ambulance pilot in 2017 Credit: ITV News

Prince William began aged 27 when he was training with the Royal Air Force, and later served with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Prince Philip started training aged 31 and was awarded his “wings” by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 1953.

When William was made colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps in May this year, the King praised him for being “a very good pilot indeed”.