William and Kate take $132 seats on budget airline for family trip to Balmoral

Prince William and family book $132-a-seat flight, after Harry and Meghan’s $36k trip.

William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte took a budget airline for their latest family holiday.

They trudged across the tarmac like any other family: harassed father weighed down with luggage; stoic wife following behind cradling the smallest child in her arms.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge boarded a scheduled flight for the start of their family break yesterday as Prince Harry faced continuing criticism for taking four private jets in 11 days on his holidays with Meghan.

Harry, who has campaigned on the dangers of climate change, has been accused of hypocrisy. His friends have claimed it would be too dangerous for his family to use scheduled services.

William, Kate and their three children boarded a Flybe jet at Norwich airport for the 8.40am flight to Aberdeen.

William, 37, was followed by George, six, who was carrying his own rucksack, and then Charlotte, four, clutching her own little bag. Kate, 37, carrying one-year-old Louis in her arms, was at the rear walking alongside their nanny.

The Cambridges are staying at Balmoral for their annual break at the Queen’s retreat in the Scottish Highlands.

Taking a train from their home in the Norfolk village of Anmer, or driving the 724km, would have taken at least eight hours. The total cost of the 70-minute trip for the family of five has been estimated at £365 ($660) or £73 ($132) each.

A fellow passenger on the flight told The Sun that they had not seen the family board the aircraft. “It was amazing how they did it, they must have slipped on quietly after people were already seated,” the passenger said.

MORE: Sir Elton John paid for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s private jet to Nice mansion | Royals may be forced to reveal who pays for private flights

“We landed, and people then saw two black Range Rovers on the tarmac. Suddenly, Will, Kate, and the kids all got up and left. I couldn’t believe my eyes. You don’t expect to see royalty on a budget airline. They weren’t harassed by anyone at all as they got off the plane.”

Kensington Palace declined to explain why they had taken a scheduled service.

The approach contrasts with that of Harry who flew on private jets to celebrate Meghan’s 38th birthday in Ibiza this month followed by a trip to the French Riviera.

 

 

WEIGHING UP THE COSTS

Flybe flight from Norwich to Aberdeen for Prince William’s family of five:

Cost: An estimated £365

CO2: 0.87 tonnes

Return flights to Nice by private jet for Prince Harry’s family of three:

Cost: £20,000, paid by Sir Elton John

CO2: At least 8.4 tonnes

Sir Elton John paid the estimated £20,000 ($36,000) cost of the private jets for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie to spend four days at his mansion in Nice. The singer defended the use of jets, saying they provided a “high level of much-needed protection” and called for the media to “cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character”.

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. To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight.

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 19, 2019

Shortly before, Harry had told Vogue of his fears about the “terrifying” effects of climate change and said that he and his wife planned to have no more than two children because of environmental concerns.

Harry, 34, and Meghan were supported by their celebrity friends, including the singer Pink and Ellen DeGeneres, the American chat show host. The actress Jameela Jamil said it was not safe for the royals to fly with the public as they are “prime targets for kidnap and sometimes assassination”.

William and Kate have often used scheduled flights for private journeys, including a trip to New York and a family holiday in Mustique.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex disembark from their plane following their arrival in Dubbo last year.

Dickie Arbiter, a former spokesman for the Queen, dismissed suggestions that it is dangerous for members of the royal family to use scheduled flights.

“If it was dangerous they would not be used by William and Kate,” he said. “They have security and no one knows they are going to take the flight. In the old days the Prince and Princess of Wales used a commercial flight for the start of an official tour. It is a choice.”

Tim Johnson, director of the Aviation Environment Federation, said: “You cannot get a more carbon-intensive form of transport than chartering a business jet. These are choices that individuals can make.”

The Sussexes’ Instagram account shared an image of cupcakes bearing the mantras “Stay strong”, “You are enough”, “You are worthy” and “You are so loved”. It was part of a post highlighting Luminary Bakery in north London, which helps women from disadvantaged backgrounds who have faced traumatic experiences.

Meghan described the enterprise as a “space for baking, healing and rebuilding”. The message was seen as a sign that she is focusing on her charity work rather than the controversy over the jets.

THE TIMES