THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex went on stage at a gig that called for climate change action — then took a private jet home.
The star-studded Global Citizen Live concert in New York — dubbed “Wokestock” — demanded tough new eco laws to halve US emissions by 2030.
And it pressed the “wealthiest nations” to deliver on a £70billion-a-year pledge to help developing countries go green.
But after the event, Prince Harry and Meghan climbed aboard a Dassault Falcon 2000 jet and flew back to their £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
Pictures showed them hugging their team after stepping off the jet.
Royal author Penny Junor, 71, told The Sun: “I do think this is hypocrisy. I’m sure there were plenty of scheduled flights.”
She added: “I do not understand why they are behaving as if they are superstars.
“His father has been known to take scheduled flights. His brother takes scheduled flights.
“This totally muddies the waters of their climate message. They are shooting themselves in the foot by taking private flights.”
A flight on a private jet from New York to California is estimated to produce 17 tons of carbon emissions.
The average carbon footprint per person in the UK per year is 12.7 tons, eco firm Pawprint says.
Earlier, the Sussexes had been ferried around New York in gas- guzzling 4x4s on what looked like an unofficial “royal tour”.
They have faced repeated criticism for insisting on using private flights, despite preaching about the environment.
The Sun revealed in 2019 that the pair had taken six of ten round trips on private jets since getting married the previous year.
It included a flight to Italy for a Google climate change summit, as well as trips to Ibiza and Nice.
Harry also took a private plane home to California after a polo tournament for his Sentebale charity in Aspen, Colorado, in August.
The Prince has previously defended his use of private jets and insisted that he spends 99 per cent of his life travelling via commercial flights.
In 2019, he said: “Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe, and it’s genuinely as simple as that.”
He explained that he tries to “balance out” the “impact” of private flights by off-setting his CO2 emissions.
But a spokesman for the couple did not respond when asked if they were off-setting their emissions from the trip back to California from New York at the weekend.
In May, Harry told Oprah Winfrey for an Apple+ TV series: “I believe even more that climate change and mental health are two of the most pressing issues that we’re facing.”
Harry added: “With kids growing up in today’s world — pretty depressing depending on where you live, your home country is either on fire, it’s either underwater, houses or forests are being flattened.”
During a speech in December to mark the launch of a new Netflix-style environment platform, the Prince urged people to be more “like raindrops” in the fight against climate change.
He added: “Every single raindrop that falls from the sky relieves the parched ground. What if every single one of us was a raindrop, and if every single one of us cared?
“At the end of the day, nature is our life source . . . but you can’t uplift, educate and inspire unless there is a form of action that follows.”
He also hit out at those who talk about taking action on the environment without ever following up their words.
He said: “For me, it’s putting in the ‘dos’ behind the ‘says’. There’s a lot of people that say, but this is about action.”
CLIMATE WARRIORS
Last year, Meghan raised the issue of climate change when she took part in the Girl Up leadership conference — a gender equality initiative of the United Nations Foundation.
Meanwhile, her wardrobe for the four-day New York trip is estimated to have cost £28,000.
On a visit to the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, she wore a £1,000 heavy black wool Emporio Armani coat, £650 matching black trousers and £450 Aquazzura heels. She chose a £3,200 Max Mara camel coat when she rubbed shoulders with world leaders at the UN on Thursday.
On Friday, she donned a £6,695 outfit — including a £3,850 Loro Piana cashmere coat, £1,300 trousers and £425 Manolo Blahnik stilettos — for a visit to school in poverty-hit Harlem.
Public records show 94 per cent of the children there qualify for free meals.
On Saturday, the Duchess returned to the UN while in a £4,500 Max Mara outfit.
Later, in Central Park — where the likes of Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez and Paul Simon played in a 24-hour gig — she wore a £3,300 cream Valentino dress and carried a £3,500 Dior D-Lite bag.
It appeared to have been customised with DSSOS, thought to signify Duchess Of Sussex.
I do think this is hypocrisy. I’m sure there were plenty of scheduled flights
Penny Junor
Global Citizen lists “defeat poverty” as one of its objectives.
Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, were cheered as they walked hand-in-hand on to the stage. They spoke to promote “vaccine equity” and tore into big drug firms.
Harry said: “Many countries are ready to produce vaccines but ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical companies are not sharing the recipes to make them.”
Meghan added: “It is wrong that so much of the vaccine supply has only gone to just ten wealthy nations and not everyone else. It’s just not OK.
“Just think about the millions of vaccines that have been discarded this year. That’s like throwing away life vests, when those around you are drowning.”
Yesterday, it was claimed the couple had been secretly taping their Big Apple visit for a Netflix documentary about their lives.
The Duke and Duchess were said to have brought their own videographer with them.
The New York Post reported he was seen running ahead of them before they arrived at the 9/11 Memorial on Thursday, and again at Saturday’s concert. Harry also appeared to be sporting a mic during his visit with his wife to iconic Harlem soul food restaurant Melba on Friday.
He had a wire around his neck, which was then seen tucked into the pocket of his chinos as he hugged restaurant owner Melba Wilson.
Sources told the newspaper that the couple had been taking footage for the archives of their Archewell Foundation.
They were also said to have been accompanied on their trip by photographer Matt Sayles.