Prince George will be separated from Prince William from today due to royal tradition

Prince George and Prince William are set to spend a little less time together from today (22 July) onwards due to an ongoing royal family tradition.

It's not just his dad either, as his mum Kate Middleton, younger sister Princess Charlotte, 10, and young brother Prince Louis, seven, might not be seeing him as often.

And it's got nothing to do with George reportedly 'threatening' his school mates with his royal status or being trolled by Louis about his flicking his hair. After all, they are still only children.

Today happens to be George's birthday and I'm sure his parents have got something special planned for him.

The official X account of The Prince and Princess of Wales wished the boy a Happy 12th Birthday earlier and many royal fans were left wondering 'where has the time gone'.

However, from today onwards, there is a royal protocol that George must follow.

Why Prince George and Prince William will travel separately from now on

George will soon have to start travelling separately to his father because anyone 12 or over in the line of succession has to follow a special security rule.

This ensures that, in the event of a tragic accident, the other would presumably be safe.

While it might sound a little extreme, the Royal Family have had terrible luck when it comes to travelling.

In 1937, Prince Philip's sister Princess Cecilie died in a plane crash at the age of 26, along with her husband, their two young sons, her mother-in-law, and unborn child, due to fog near Ostend, Belgium.

60 years later, William and Harry's mother Princess Diana died in a high-speed car accident in Paris, France.

Queen Elizabeth II's uncle Prince George also died in a plane crash while serving in the Royal Air Force in 1942.

As was the same fate as her cousin Prince William of Gloucester who died in an air crash while piloting his plane in a competition in 1972.

Well, it seems George's dad took part in the same tradition after his 12th birthday, and wasn't allowed to fly with his dad, Charles, or younger brother Prince Harry, again.

King Charles's former pilot, Graham Laurie previously recalled to OK! Magazine: "We flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old.

"After that, he had to have a separate aircraft and we could only fly all four together when they were young with the written permission of Her Majesty.

"When William became 12, he would fly normally in a 125 from Northolt and we would fly the 146 out with the other three on."