The Queen, Charles and William always 'travel with a bag of their blood'

Danielle Stacey
·Royal Correspondent
Updated
Prince Charles, The Queen and Prince William all travel with a bag of blood. Photo: Getty Images
Prince Charles, The Queen and Prince William all travel with a bag of blood. Photo: Getty Images

The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William always carry one vital essential when they travel - a supply of their own blood.

It may sound like the intro to a horror film, but the reason behind the grisly holiday staple is purely medical.

The Sun’s former royal editor Duncan Larcombe tells Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box,’: “If it’s the Queen, Prince Charles or Prince William, they’ll have the royal physician with them, with a bag full of their own blood, just in case something happens.”

As second in line Prince William has to have his own blood on him at all times. Photo: Getty Images
As second in line Prince William has to have his own blood on him at all times. Photo: Getty Images

The Prince of Wales, 70, is the heir to the throne, while the Duke of Cambridge, 37, is second in the line of succession.

The decision to keep their own life source on hand is likely tied up in maintaining that line of succession, and avoiding potential disasters at all costs.

According to the NHS:

  • red blood cells can be stored for up to 35 days.

  • platelets can be stored for up to 7 days.

  • plasma can be stored for up to 3 years.

While Her Majesty, 93, doesn’t travel overseas anymore, Charles and Camilla are set to travel to New Zealand in autumn.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Pakistan, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are heading to Africe.

Royal tour entourage

OSLO, NORWAY - FEBRUARY 01: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker (C) and stylist Natasha Archer (R) arrive to Oslo Gardermoen Airport on day 3 of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Sweden and Norway on February 1, 2018 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker and personal assistant Natasha Archer in Oslo, Norway on Kate and William's tour. Photo: Getty Images

It’s not just their ow blood that the royals bring along either, The Sunday Times’ royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah says there is usually around 12 - 14 people in the entourage.

She explains: “It tends to be three press secretaries, a private secretary, sometimes an assistant private secretary will go as well, a hairdresser, a valet, a digital person who assists with communications.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly took 10 members of their team on their royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, including outgoing private secretary Samantha Cohen.

On their last major tour to Sweden and Norway in 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s entourage included Kate’s personal assistant and stylist Natasha Archer and her hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker.

Of course royal travel is quite a sore spot for the famed family these days, with Harry and Meghan embroiled in controversy over their private jet use.

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