The Queen has seen incredible advances in technology across her 67 years on the throne so far. However, just before she ascended the throne, in 1951, Her Majesty had a hand in popularising the groundbreaking jet engine. Together with Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, she became the first royal to ever use the new technology of jet-powered flight. 

Channel 5 documentary “Secrets of the Royal Flight”, which first aired last month, took a look at the historic moment. 

The documentary narrator Nigel Havers explained: “In 1949, the de Havilland Comet, manufactured on home turf here in Hertfordshire, took to the air – the jet engine had arrived. 

“And if the Royal Family wanted in on the action, they would have to go commercial.” 

The programme heard from historian Kate Williams, who said: “The Comet had its greatest and biggest advertisement in 1951 with the ‘VIP Flight’. 

“And the VIP Flight featured the three biggest VIPs you could get. 

“The Queen, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. 

“All three of them went up in the plane together. 

“How amazing is that? 

“If it’s safe enough for the Queen and her two daughters – including the heir to the throne – its safe enough for everybody.” 

The documentary narrator continued: “Elizabeth, her mother and princess Margaret were guests of honour of Sir Geoffrey and Lady de Havilland. 

“They became the first members of the British Royal Family to fly by jet. 

“Around 50 percent faster than piston-engine aircraft, London to Tokyo by Comet would now take 36 hours, compared to 86 hours.” 

Early Royal tour photographs of the Queen in the first years of her reign show her disembarking from Comets bearing the BOAC insignia, standing for British Overseas Airways Corporation. 

Sir Geoffrey de Havilland pioneered the jet engine, and his Comet was the first ever jet airliner to go into production. 

Dame Olivia de Havilland, the Golden Age of Hollywood icon, is cousin to the famous aircraft designer. 

Although Her Majesty and the Royal Family travelled together on commercial flights during those earlier years , the rules of royal travel are stricter nowadays. 

Although other royals like Kate Middleton and Prince William have been pictured travelling on budget commercial flights this summer the Queen herself no longer takes normal scheduled flights. 

Penny Junor, in her 2005 book “The Firm”, explains: Ms Junor writes: “Since 9/11, the Queen and the Prince of Wales no longer travel on scheduled airlines because of the security risk. 

“Nor do they ever fly together in the same aircraft – they never have – and the Prince of Wales does not as a rule fly with his sons. 

“He needs the Queen’s permission to do so and there have been occasions in the past where she has refused it.”

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