The royal family is up, up and away.
Queen Elizabethflew more than 1 million air miles in her lifetime, and the PBS two-part 2020 seriesSecrets of Royal Travelwent inside the key to being a monarch on the move. The second episode, “Secrets of the Royal Flight,” unveils stories from the people who helped wranglethe Queen’s beloved corgison board and organized 12 tons of luggage from the late monarch’s 44,000-mile Commonwealth tour in 1953.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Prince Philip.PA Images via Getty
Prince William and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson/Getty
However, several members of the royal family have died in air travel accidents. Prince George, Duke of Kent, was killed in a military air crash in 1942, while Prince William of Gloucester died at age 30 in 1972 while taking part in an air show.
King Charles himself had a close call in 1994 while at the controls when high winds and awkward landing caused the plane to pop a tire, overshoot the runway and crash. No one was hurt, but the incident caused more than $1 million in damages to the plane.
Prince Charles.WATFORD/Mirrorpix via Getty
Although the King was absolved of any wrongdoing, as he was technically a passenger who was invited to fly the aircraft, he gave up his flying license a year later.
“With hindsight, which is a wonderful thing, I should have got him to overshoot and try a different approach, but I told him to land, so he did exactly what he was told to do,” Laurie says.
Prince Charles.Fox Photos/Getty
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Despite the possible dangers involved in air travel, royal historian David McClure suspects that’s exactly why the royals are so drawn to it.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.Bettmann/Getty
“Part of the attraction of air travel must be the risks. It’s a sense of adventure. I suspect they quite like the thrill of putting their life on the line,” he explains, “but there might also be a deeper, psychological reason they’re attracted to flight: Because they live most of their life in a gilded cage. Their life is regimented. When they go up in the air, they’re almost free. They’re literally spreading their wings.”
source: people.com
