Prince Harry, Meghan Markle flew home on gas-guzzling private jet

They promote themselves as green warriors, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted to charter a private jet back home to LA.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex charted a private jet for their family’s round trip to the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The California-based family are understood to have flown home in a Bombardier Global 6000 ultra long-range jet for their 11-hour, 8800km journey, reports The Sun.

It is understood they also chartered a private flight to the UK on Thursday but the aircraft model is unknown.

Just the leg home would have emitted almost 60 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to chartered flight company Paramount Business Jets.

By comparison, flying commercial aircraft from Heathrow to Los Angeles in economy seats would have been significantly less emissions at just 1.4 tonnes, climate firm Cube6 said.

If people are following the objectives of the Paris climate agreement, then an individual should be aiming to keep their own production carbon dioxide to below 2.1 tonnes a year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Zara Tindall outside St Paul's Cathedral after the National Service of Thanksgiving. Picture: Getty Images

The Sussex’s have copped criticism for their travel choices in the past, with reports the couple used private jets for six out of 10 flights in the middle of 2019.

The pair have previously been accused of being hypocrites for flying in private jets, despite saying they care about the environment and encouraging people to reduce their emissions.

In the past Prince Harry has said he aims to use commercial flights where possible but “unique circumstances” meant it was not always viable.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Prince Harry said: “We need to do better about stopping or allowing the things that are causing so much harm to so many of us at the source, rather than being distracted by the symptom”.

The couple have said they would offset their carbon emissions on all flights.

The round trip is estimated to have cost £160,000 ($A279,000) but it is unclear who covered the costs, The Sun reports.

MEGXIT 2.0: SUSSEX’S LEFT UK BEFORE PLATINUM JUBILEE PARTY ENDED

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly flew back to America an hour before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations ended.

The couple, who spent most of the time at Frogmore Cottage since arriving on Thursday, were ready to take the skies about 1.30pm local time – an hour before the four-day party wrapped up, The Sun reports.

The Sussex’s only public appearance during the four-day celebrations to mark the Queen’s seven decades on the throne was at the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

But on Thursday they were spotted through windows of the Major General’s Office telling young royals to be quiet, during the Trooping The Colour parade.

Prince Harry and Meghan did not attend Saturday night’s Platinum Party, but instead reportedly watched the concert at Windsor with the Queen.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, pictured here arriving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, reportedly left the UK before the end of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture: Getty Images

The couple and their two children, Archie, 3, Lilibet, 1, didn’t stay for the final event, the Platinum Pageant.

It is understood the Sussexes were driven from Frogmore Cottage to Farnborough Airport before departing at 1.30pm, The Sun reports.

The trip is estimated to have cost more than $275,000 and it is unclear who paid for it.

“There was no fanfare, they just went,” an insider said.

“They didn’t stick around for the Platinum Jubilee pageant.”

WHO SCORED AN INVITE TO LILIBET’S BIRTHDAY?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday with a “relaxed” party attended by second cousins.

The couple held the informal garden party at Windsor’s Frogmore Cottage, the royal estate, with picnic-style snacks, a birthday cake, balloons and party games, according to The Sun.

The little girl’s party was open to Zara and Mike Tindall’s children Mia, eight, Lena, three, and Lucas, one, along with Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly’s daughters Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10.

Other guests expected at the birthday celebration included Archie’s godfather Charlie Van Straubenzee, and his brother Tom, Princess Charlotte’s godfather.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Zara Tindall during the Thanksgiving service. Picture: Getty Images

“It was a lovely do and had everything you’d expect from a child’s birthday party,” a source told The Sun.

“But there was no formal entertainment. The idea was for it to be very relaxed and casual, with people free to pop in and out as they wished.

“It was a nice opportunity for the other royal children to meet Lilibet for the first time.

“And as her first birthday is such a milestone, there was lots of discussion ahead of time about the presents that she would be given on the day.

“One idea that proved very popular was a £75 ($A112) pink Volkswagen Beetle ride-on toy, which had been spotted in Selfridges.”

It comes after Lilibet finally met her great-grandmother the Queen, after whom she was named.

The one-year-old’s birthday was celebrated on the Royal Family’s social media accounts.

The Twitter account for the royals posted a balloon emoji and the message: “Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!”.

🎈Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 4, 2022

Her grandparents Charles and Camilla and uncle and aunt Prince William and Kate also posted birthday messages online.

Neither Lilibet nor her three-year-old brother Archie have been seen in public at any of the Jubilee celebrations.

On Saturday evening UK time, Harry and Meghan stayed with their children in Windsor near the Queen who watched the Platinum Party on television.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed with their children in Windsor, alongside the Queen, to watch the Platinum Party on television. Picture: Getty Images

However, the couple were at Friday’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, where a huge cheer went up as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived.

It was the first time that the couple were in full public view alongside the Windsors since they quit the monarchy for a new life in the US two years ago.

Meghan and Harry’s visit to the UK is Lilibet’s first — and also the first time she has stayed at Frogmore Cottage, where Archie spent his first year until the family relocated to California in March 2020.

The cottage has been home to Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August since November 2020, but they moved out earlier this year.

Harry and Meghan have now renewed their lease on the property for 12 months.

Originally published as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle flew home on gas-guzzling private jet