King Charles has just touched down in the Bahamas for the start of a high level nine day visit.
Buckingham Palace shared rare images of The King on board the Government’s Voyager plane on his way to Nassau.
But ahead of boarding, King Charles was able to skip one part of overseas travel that everyone else, including Prince William, has to do.
The King didn’t pack a passport and the reason is unusual: Charles III doesn’t need a passport to travel.
King Charles is able to go anywhere in the world without a passport. However, the rest of the Royal Family does require the document.
In fact, King Charles cannot have a passport – because all British passports are issued in his name.
British passports contain a formal request from the Secretary of State, made in the name of The King, asking foreign authorities to allow the bearer to travel freely and provide assistance and protection where necessary.
As the person in whose name the documents are issued, the King does not need one himself.
The arrangement also applied to Queen Elizabeth II throughout her 70-year reign.
However, the exemption is exclusive to the Sovereign. Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family must carry passports when travelling abroad.
That also means that, until September 8 2022, King Charles did need a passport. During the reign of his mother, when he was Prince Charles, he required a document to travel overseas. His passport, like everyone else’s, contained the message made in the name of Queen Elizabeth II to allow the bearer (in this case the heir to the throne) to travel freely.
In the coming weeks, when Prince William heads to India for the Earthshot Prize, he will need a passport and it will be issued on behalf of his father.
Prince William will only be able to travel passport free when he himself is King. And even then, Kate will still need a passport and, as queen consort, will carry a document issued in the name of her husband.
King Charles is spending several days in the Bahamas where he is expected to address the issue of past slavery. His time in the Caribbean will also take him to Guyana as well as Antigua and Barbuda where Queen Camilla will join him ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
