Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Environmentally Conscious Drivers?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stepped aside from the royal life and, in conjunction with a simpler lifestyle, seem to be demonstrating their environmental values, as well. In an attempt to reduce their ecological footprint, the couple is making some public trade-offs with regard to their personal vehicles. We wanted to learn more about Prince Harry’s history with Audi and explore to find out if the iconic couple is really as environmentally conscious as they seem to be.
Prince Harry loves his Audi vehicles
The royal family typically appears in a variety of vehicles, including Bentley, Aston Martin, and Jaguar models. Audi, however, might be a favorite, at least for Prince Harry and his father, Prince Charles. Between the two, over the years, they both have owned a variety of Audi vehicle models like the RS5, S3, and A8. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have owned an Audi A5 Sportback and A3, as well. Prince Harry recently purchased a new Audi and traded out his Audi RS6 Avant.
The latest edition to the couple’s garage
Prince Harry put his 2017 Audi RS6 Avant wagon up for sale on AutoTrader.com. This iconic car was used to drive his now-wife, Meghan Markle, to Pippa Middleton’s wedding in 2017. With only 4,464 miles and loads of extras, Prince Harry is saying goodbye to the RS6 with an asking price of £71,000 (USD $93,147).
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially moved on with their newest car, the Audi E-Tron 55. The couple was spotted behind the wheel of Audi’s electric vehicle, driving to the Cloisters, near St. George’s Chapel. This latest EV purchase has everyone wondering if the Duke and Duchess were motivated to switch due to environmentally conscious values.
Recent scrutiny over chosen flight patterns
It was only last year when the royal couple found themselves under scrutiny for their private jet-setting lifestyle choices. When vacationing in France, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were photographed outside a private jet. Only a few weeks before the backlash over the private flight, Prince Harry shared with British Vogue that he and his bride wouldn’t have more than two children for environmental reasons. The Duke had spoken in support of fighting climate change, while barefoot at the Google camp, as well. When flights are suggested to emit seven times the typical amount of a commercial airliner, the decision to use private jets seemed to blatantly contradict the couple’s promoted ‘green’ concerns.
Legitimate concerns in reducing an environmental impact
Despite the private jet controversy, there are several indications that both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are authentically concerned about protecting the environment. Certainly, the latest change of vehicles is confirmation the royal couple wanted to forgo the gas power for a cleaner, EV variety. They drove the Jaguar E-Type Zero electric car on their wedding day, after all. Prince Harry may be taking a page from his father’s public sentiments for ‘green’ efforts and causes. Prince Charles is no stranger to calling for action and has done so publicly in addressing financial service and capital market industries.
The royal couple may have made a poor decision to fly privately last August. However, most of their daily lifestyle choices seem to be supportive of environmentally savvy efforts. Both may be more vocal about some causes than others, including Meghan Markle’s recent comments about gender equality and attendance of the One Young World Summit in London. But, when it comes to living their most environmentally conscious lives, they seem to be doing their best. At the very least, they have decided to trade the gas-powered Audi in for the Audi E-Tron electric car.
