The Prince of Wales met environmental activist Greta Thunberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, where he launched an initiative to encourage “rapid decarbonisation” and deliver more sustainable markets. However, before meeting the eco superstar, the prince himself had taken a series of private flights over less than a fortnight, that emitted more than 18 times the average Briton’s yearly carbon output. Added to this, 5 out of the 8 flights were taken by completely passengerless aircraft.

Prince Charles flew to Oman from Scotland, to pay respects on behalf of the Queen after the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, on January 12.

Charles then headed back to Sandringham for crisis talks with Prince Harry alongside  the Queen and Prince William, on January 13.

He then flew back to Scotland after the Sandringham summit, before heading on to Davos.

All of this official royal business involved Charles taking four private flights – but five trips were made by jets and helicopters with no passengers on them.

According to data put together by the Mail on Sunday, the empty aircraft alone flew a total of 7,824 miles, emitting 74.7 tons of carbon.

An empty private jet was sent from Vienna to Scotland, to pick Charles up for the flight to Muscat, Oman, which then had to return empty to Vienna.

A new plane was then dispatched from Luton to Muscat to pick Charles up, after the original flight crew had exceeded their hours.

A helicopter was then dispatched from Hampshire to collect Charles at Sandringham, which then had to return to Hampshire after dropping him off in Scotland.

In total, the prince’s flights travelled more than 16,000 miles in 11 days, emitting more than 162 tons of carbon.

Then, after arriving at Davos from Scotland by jet, the prince then flew another 1,740 miles by jet to start his tour of Israel.

Speaking on podcast Pod Save the Queen this week, the Daily Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers commented: “The issue is that some of the flights were taken with empty planes, and this is very controversial.

“It’s insane because there are flights being taken across Europe to the Middle East with nobody on them.

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“I’m in agreement that the Royal Family do important business and there is a security risk, as Harry said [last summer].

“When you’re flying on official business – as most of them do – I don’t necessarily have a problem with that.

“Harry and Meghan shouldn’t be taking private jets to Ibiza and Nice, that’s a very short trip and there are regular scheduled flights.

“But [empty flights] is absolute madness, I think there is scope to rethink this a lot of the time, especially when he’s meeting Greta.

“He’s saying we need to make drastic changes.

“If you are not taking the steps yourself and you are speaking on a global platform, then you are opening yourself up to valid criticism.

“We certainly can’t level it at Harry and Meghan without questioning the choices of the other members of the Royal Family.

“Flying jets around the world that are empty – I have huge, huge issues with that.”

A Clarence House spokesman said: “Global travel is an inescapable part of the Prince’s role as a senior member of the Royal Family representing the UK overseas.

“When he travels he does so at the request of the British Government. He does not choose the destinations any more than he chooses the means by which the journeys are undertaken.”

Officials also told the Mail on Sunday that a private jet was chosen for security reasons and the Prince only accepted the Davos invitation because it was on the way to Israel.

Another royal source told the publication: “The Prince has been campaigning against the dangers of global warming for 50 years.

“As soon as there is a more efficient way of travelling, bearing in mind all the factors involved, he’ll be the first to adopt them.”

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