Environmentalists didn’t mince on their words when they called Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hypocrites for violating their advocacies. The wave of criticisms came after the royal couple had several trips abroad via private jets – four times in eleven days, to be exact.
Why is that a problem? Private planes leave a much bigger carbon footprint per passenger than commercial flights. The couple’s latest escapade was a luxurious getaway to Nice, France, the first with their three-month-old bundle of joy, Archie.
What Happened?
But why exactly are people losing their minds over this matter? Here’s a rundown of the events that transpired leading to a massive public uproar.
The backlash began when Prince Harry was invited to a Google Climate Conference in Sicily where he delivered a moving, barefoot speech about saving the planet.
The royal allegedly said he and Meghan were going to stick to two kids at most, citing environmental issues as the reason behind their decision to have a smaller family, but ironically, the 34-year-old arrived at the conference via a private jet and helicopter — talk about saving the environment.
Then, the Sussexes opted to take a private flight to Ibiza to celebrate Meghan’s 38th birthday. More recently, the family of three took a private jet to Nice, France for a much-needed vacation.
The Duke and Duchess came under fire for their overindulgence in private flying and after relentless malicious reports, Elton John rushed to their defense.
The singer explained that he and his husband David Furnish provided the aircraft for Meghan and Harry, citing security concerns behind their decision to fly privately.
The musician also felt the need to protect the royals since he was friends with the late Princess Diana.
Elton John’s House
However, with the media going Gaga over the couple’s recent holidays, only a few managed to ask the important question: How was their stay at Elton’s beautiful French abode? It is safe to assume that the Sussexes had a blast at the palatial Nice residence, which the Grammy Award-winner bought in the ‘90s.
The property, which overlooks the French Riviera was, in fact, built in the 1920s. Fred Dilger and Monique Gibson modernized the rather-old hilltop mansion, which was once painted in pink before the musician decided to breathe life into it by opting for a bright yellow hue.
Mansion’s Interiors
You’ll probably be amazed by the neutral-colored living room with three Andy Warhol paintings and a Roy Lichtenstein metal mask sculpture inside the residence.
You’ll also be in awe of the all-white tower room that faces the Mediterranean. The dining room, meanwhile, has a Julian Schnabel canvas, and 14 sets of china.
The master suite has a bed made by Julian and there’s also an artwork by Andy. Outside, you’ll see statues of four seasons lining the pool, which were initially supposed to be inside the house but were moved outside due to lack of space.
Prince Harry and Meghan were hardly the first famous couple to have stayed at Elton’s not-so-humble French house. The Rocketman hitmaker’s close friends Victoria and David Beckham as well as How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka took a vacation at the place.