Sir Elton John has rushed to defend Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle after they flew on a private jet to his residence in the South of France.
After being photographed with their three-month-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor over the weekend, several UK newspapers slammed the royals for using a private aeroplane, with the main concern being that it is not environmentally friendly.
”I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week,” Elton wrote on Twitter.
“Prince Harry’s Mother, Diana Princess Of Wales was one of my dearest friends. I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death.”
Sir Elton wanted the family-of-three to have a private and well-earned holiday “inside the safety and tranquillity” of the home he shares with David Furnish, and “to maintain a high level of much-needed protection”, the couple provided the Sussexes with a private jet flight.
“To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint,” he continued.
“I highly respect and applaud both Harry and Meghan’s commitment to charity and I’m calling on the press to cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character that are spuriously crafted on an almost daily basis.”
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Elton John with Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry at The Lion King premiere in London.
(Source: Getty Images)Also weighing in on the conversation was comedian, TV host and conservationist Ellen DeGeneres, who took to Twitter to share her thoughts.
“Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan to talk about their work on wildlife conservation,” she wrote.
“They were the the most down-to-earth, compassionate people. Imagine being attacked for everything you do, when all you’re trying to do is make the world better.”
Royal reporter Omid Scobie, who often is the first to report on what the young royal couple are doing, took to his Twitter to explain that Harry and Duchess Meghan’s travel to Ibiza earlier in the month was “also on carbon neutral”.
“@NetJets, one of the world’s biggest corporate jet operators, have been CO2 neutral since 2012 and have invested heavily in research to explore sustainable alternatives to fossil based fuels,” he wrote.
In pictures published by British publication The Sun, Prince Harry and Meghan were seen exiting a private jet on the French Riviera on Wednesday, August 14.
Wearing a trendy panama hat and crisp white shirt, Meghan was seen cradling baby Archie close to her as she exited the jet.
It’s unclear the royals have already returned back to the UK since touching down in Nice on Wednesday, however it is understood they will also visit the Queen, who is staying in Balmoral during the UK summer.
