England's rugby coach and players didn't hold back in their jests aimed at Prince Harry, whom they perceived as hypocritical regarding climate change.
Former England coach Eddie Jones, renowned for his blunt demeanor, took a jab at Harry during a training session, teasing him about climate change: "How's climate change going, mate? How was Elton John's jet?" Jones didn't miss the opportunity to mock Harry, especially after the latter attended the session in his former role as England's rugby Patron and addressed the players.
The mockery stemmed from a Sun story that revealed Harry and Meghan's use of a private jet to Nice in August 2019, despite the availability of numerous daily commercial flights from London.
Following the Sun's reports, Elton John stepped in to clarify that the couple used his private jet for security reasons during their visit. Elton defended the couple on Twitter, emphasizing the necessity of their high level of protection and confirming that he provided his luxury 12-seat aircraft, which would typically cost over $20,000 to hire.
These revelations were discussed on the "For the Love of Rugby" podcast by England player Ben Young, drawing attention to the perceived disparity between Harry and Meghan's environmental advocacy and their choice of transportation. Speaking to teammate Dan Cole, Young remarked, "You know Prince Harry used to come in a little bit and watch his train.
I don't know what we call him now; all of his titles have gone, haven't they?" There was a moment when Harry was addressing the group, and Eddie quipped, "How's climate change going, mate? How was Elton John's jet?" This humorous exchange elicited laughter from the pair before Young jokingly accused Eddie of throwing Harry under the bus.
Prince Harry became patron of England's Rugby Football Union in 2016 and the Rugby Football League in 2017. He was regularly seen attending training sessions and cheering from the stands. However, in 2021, when he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties, he was stripped of both roles, which were then handed to Catherine, now the Princess of Wales.
The 2019 incident was not the only time Harry and Meghan faced criticism for their use of private jets despite describing themselves as environmentalists. In November of the previous year, the couple was branded as eco-hypocrites after flying on a private jet to a Katy Perry concert. They joined a host of other celebrities flying from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas on a plane owned by Texan oil heir Michael Herd.
Cameron Diaz, her husband Benji Madden, and actress Zoe Saldana were among those who flew on the Gulfstream jet for a 40-minute private flight to watch the final show of Perry's residency in Vegas. When contacted by The Sun about Harry and Meghan's flight, Herd stated that they only went to dinner and to see Katy's last show. He described them as nice people and refrained from commenting on criticism of the Sussexes' private flight, stating, "I'm not them."
Despite the controversies surrounding their mode of travel, Harry has consistently spoken out about environmental issues. In a passionate speech at the United Nations in 2022, he addressed the global assault on democracy and freedom. Speaking in New York City, he highlighted the ongoing pandemic's impact on communities worldwide, the havoc wreaked by climate change, and the disproportionate suffering of the most vulnerable. He condemned the weaponization of lies and disinformation, referencing the war in Ukraine and the erosion of constitutional rights in the United States.
