Prince Harry breaks silence on private jet use with Meghan Markle: ‘We can all do better’

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attend “The Lion King” European Premiere at Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London. The couple’s penchant for private flights has come under fire for its contrast to their environmental consciousness. (Getty)

“After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquility of our home,” he continued. “To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight. To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint™. I highly respect and applaud both Harry and Meghan’s commitment to charity and I’m calling on the press to cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character that are spuriously crafted on an almost daily basis.”

PRINCE HARRY, KATY PERRY AMONG STARS ATTENDING GOOGLE CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT VIA PRIVATE JET

“I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death.”

— Elton John

The trip to France reportedly had a carbon footprint of three tons, while the annual carbon footprint for the average British citizen is 13 tons.

The Ibiza trip reportedly emitted six times more carbon dioxide than a commercial flight from London to the Spanish island.

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Prince Harry gave a speech barefoot earlier this month at Google’s secret celebrity summit, saying he and Duchess Meghan would have, at maximum, two children (including infant son Archie) to prevent environmental harm from climate change.

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Prince Harry’s new initiative is focused on tackling the travel industry’s impact on climate change, improving wildlife conservation, and protecting the environment in top tourist spots around the world. It aims to increase the amount of tourism dollars that go to local communities, as well as to find answers to over-tourism.

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“Travel has the unparalleled power to open people’s minds to different cultures, new experiences, and to have a profound appreciation for what our world has to offer,” the Duke said in a statement. “As tourism inevitably grows, it is critically important to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices worldwide, and to balance this growth with the needs of the environment and the local population. Bringing companies, consumers and communities together is our best chance to protect destinations and ecosystems for future generations.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.