Buckingham Palace Responds to Criticism Over Royal Family's Helicopter Use
Buckingham Palace is pushing back on criticism surrounding the royal family’s helicopter use after new data shed light on how frequently they are flown.
According to The Telegraph, the two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters currently leased by the royal family logged a combined 58,000 miles of travel.
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They also racked up a reported 420 hours of flying time between February 25, 2025 and late November 2025.
In response to the attention, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace defended the use of helicopters.
“Helicopters are a key component of the royal travel plan due to their unique capability to access remote regions of the U.K., 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,” they said.
Princess Anne and Prince William were identified as the most frequent users of the aircraft. Flight data cited by The Telegraph showed Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate as the most common destination, with 68 stops.
William reportedly landed 47 times in Windsor and made five trips to Forest Lodge, the Windsor-area home he shares with wife Princess Kate Middleton and their three children. Kate has also used helicopters for solo engagements, while she and William traveled together for joint duties throughout 2025.