Harry and Meghan slammed for 'virtue signalling' talk before 'doing opposite'

24 October 2023 , 12:43

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Harry and Meghan slammed for 'virtue signalling' talk before 'doing opposite'

Former royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been labelled as 'climate change hypocrites' and accused of 'virtue signalling' for taking a private jet.

The comments, made on the Jeremy Vine show on Channel 5 on Monday October 23rd, come after the couple took a private jet to holiday in the Caribbean earlier this month.

The couple boarded a private plane to travel from the US to Canouan for a holiday on October 11 and used the same Falcon 7X aircraft to travel from the Caribbean island on the return journey. The flights took place just days after they attended the World Mental Health Day Festival in New York City which highlighted mental health and climate change concerns.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also previously called for sustainable change in the tourism industry, making this move to use a private jet seem contradictory.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of 'virtue signalling' by critics over their climate change behaviour (Getty Images)

Speaking on the Jeremy Vine show on Monday, political and social commentator Lin Mei said: "This is what you call a good lesson to us all if you want us to follow in your footsteps. What Harry and Megan are doing is essentially virtue signalling. And I don't believe that they're genuine."

Journalist Owen Jones responded: "That's the problem here and let's be honest about this. Would I fly on a private jet? No. Do I think people should avoid using private jets? No. I'd also note that private jets account for 2% of the emissions from the aviation industry and aviation accounts for 80% of global emissions. But I would say, is we should all do our best on an individual level. But I think this misses the point."

The pair have previously called for sustainable change in tourism, yet opted for a private jet earlier this month (Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)

He then continued: "The problem we have is we do have a world, where at the moment, you can't opt out of society. Now, I know private jets were a bit of a luxurious exception there, but the point is this; we face an existential threat as a species. What does that mean? It means our future as a civilization is under threat."

Mei interjected and asked: "If it's an emergency, and they are launching initiatives Harry and Megan, that it's a climate emergency. Why are they taking so many private jets?"

She then later added: "In 2019, they launched an initiative where they're essentially telling the tourism industry, you need to change and it's okay for you because you can get on your private jet. How lovely."

The couple were also labelled as 'climate change hypocrites' for using the private jet to fly for their Caribbean holiday (AFP via Getty Images)

She further slammed the couple as she said: "I think if you are going to go on this massive platform, and essentially tell people you need to be mindful of how you travel, telling industries we need to change, then going ahead and doing the opposite, it doesn't make sense."

Niamh Spence