Palace Defends Royal Family’s Helicopter Travel
Buckingham Palace has defended the Royal Family’s extensive use of helicopters following a report that detailed the scale of royal air travel over a nine-month period.
According to the report, members of the Royal Family flew the equivalent of twice around the world using helicopters between late February and the end of November. Flight records show that the Royal Family’s two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters covered approximately 58,000 miles during this time and were airborne for a total of 420 hours. At least one helicopter was in use on more than half of the days within the period examined.
In response to the findings, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said helicopters remain a vital part of royal travel arrangements due to their ability to access remote areas of the UK that are not easily reached by other forms of transport. The spokesperson added that helicopter travel also enables members of the Royal Family to attend multiple engagements in a single day.
“Helicopters are a key component of the royal travel plan due to their unique capability to access remote regions of the UK, 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 spokesperson said.
The two helicopters entered service earlier this year, replacing two Sikorsky aircraft that had been in use for approximately 15 years.
The report also revealed differences in usage among senior royals. Princess Anne was identified as the most frequent user, with dozens of flights linked to her home at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. Prince William also made extensive use of the helicopters, with 47 recorded landings at Windsor and five at Forest Lodge, where he relocated in October.
The findings have reignited debate over royal travel and environmental concerns, with palace officials maintaining that helicopter use is necessary for operational efficiency and national duties.
