King Charles asked Prince William to sign waiver over helicopter issues

As the next heir to the throne, Prince William and his father, King Charles, are known to have a special bond. But their close relationship doesn’t stop them from having disagreements from time to time, especially when it comes to the safety of their family.

According to Robert Jobson’s 2024 book, Catherine, Princess of WalesCharles and William, who often present a united front, once had a tense argument regarding the safety of the Wales family and William’s piloting. Jobson revealed that Charles had “raised concerns” to William, an experienced pilot, about his use of the helicopter with Kate Middleton and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“After being diagnosed with cancer, King Charles – perhaps reminded of his own mortality – echoed his late mother’s concerns,” Jobson wrote. The king announced in early 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Jobson said Queen Elizabeth had previously asked William not to fly with his family in a helicopter.

According to a Buckingham Palace aide, the late monarch “did not hold back” her opinion after being “haunted” by the death of her captain in a helicopter crash in 1967.

William, who worked as a search and rescue pilot from 2010 to 2013 in the Royal Air Force, refused to stop flying with his family, leading Charles to write up a waiver to sign.

“Charles insisted that he sign a formal document, acknowledging the risks involved and taking full responsibility for his actions,” Jobson wrote, adding: “This would of course be little consolation for an unspeakable tragedy, not to mention the prospect of King Harry and Queen Meghan.”

Elsewhere in the book, Jobson credits Middleton as a “stabilizing influence” on William, particularly when it came to conflicts between the future king and his father. A source told Jobson that Kate “is someone who always tries to see both sides of any dispute” and is “emotionally mature” in their relationship.