Harry and Meghan have on many occasions spoken about the importance of preserving the environment, but their latest move has proved the opposite.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, known for their environmental advocacy, are facing scrutiny over their recent frequent international flights, raising concerns about their commitment to addressing climate change.
Seven flights in two weeks
As per The Mirror, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly took seven flights in just two weeks, despite their vocal stance on climate issues. Harry flew from Los Angeles to Heathrow, then to Germany for the Invictus Games, while Meghan followed a similar route. After the Games, the couple took a flight to Portugal for a short romantic gateway together before taking a final flight to LA.
The couple's extensive air travel has led to accusations of hypocrisy, with royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams emphasizing the importance of practicing what they preach, especially given their pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030. Despite their previous calls for environmental action, Harry and Meghan's 18,000-mile journey has raised eyebrows and sparked questions about the necessity of their flights. Fitzwilliams, in response to their frequent flying, told The Express:
'If you preach about climate change, as Harry and Meghan do, you should, where possible, practice what you preach. That, along with flights to London (only him) and Germany for Invictus, the couple also visited Princess Eugenie, whom they are close to, in Portugal, has obviously laid them open to charges of hypocrisy. The contretemps when they reportedly took four private jet journeys in 11 days in 2019 comes to mind.'
What did Harry say about environmental issues?
In 2019, the couple had advocated for climate action and emphasized the significance of individual choices and actions in protecting the planet. According to The Mirror, they highlighted the environmental damage caused by economic growth and expressed the need to change this mindset. The Duke said at that time:
'There is a ticking clock to protect our planet - with climate change, the deterioration of our natural resources, endangerment of sacred wildlife, the impact of plastics and microplastics, and fossil fuel emissions, we are jeopardising this beautiful place we call home - for ourselves and for future generations.'
Harry called for everyone to 'save the planet' with 'every choice, every footprint, and every action':
'Let’s save it. Let’s do our part. Environmental damage has been treated as a necessary by-product of economic growth. So deeply ingrained is this thinking that it has been considered part of the natural order that humankind’s development comes at the expense of our planet. Only now are we starting to notice and understand the damage that we’ve been causing. With nearly 7.7 billion people inhabiting this Earth, every choice, every footprint, every action makes a difference.'
Harry had even revealed that they planned to have a maximum of two children to contribute to the planet's preservation.
However, their recent high-frequency air travel has led to criticism and ignited a debate about the alignment of their actions with their environmental advocacy. The couple's extensive travel for both work and leisure has drawn attention to the environmental impact of their choices.
Read more:
⋙ Prince Harry and Meghan have been hiding a secret after Invictus Games
⋙ Meghan and Harry reunite in Germany, where are they staying?
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