The Prince of hypocrites: Charles! embarks on

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Prince Charles was accused of hypocrisy last night for using a private jet on an 'environmental' tour of South America.

The prince will travel to the region next month in a visit costing an estimated £300,000 as part of his crusade against global warming.

He will use a luxury airliner to transport himself, the Duchess of Cornwall and a 14-strong entourage to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador on a 16,400-mile round trip.

Aides insist it is impossible for the prince to complete the ten-day official visit using scheduled flights as he will undertake almost 40 engagements.

They also stress that he will offset his carbon emissions.

But last night critics seized on his choice of transport. Labour MP Ian Davidson, a member of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: 'It would be hard to make this up.

'To hear that the Prince of Wales is flying to South America to save the environment and taking 14 staff on his jet at hideous cost just for this trip is the height of the absurd.

'At a time when the greed of bankers is causing much adverse comment I would have thought that Prince Charles would have had more sense than to be so financially and ecologically wasteful.'

The prince's determination to bring environmental issues to the forefront of public policymaking has been regularly praised but has also left him open to accusations of hypocrisy.

He was roundly criticised for flying first class to the U.S. with a 20-strong entourage to collect an environmental award in 2007.

(more, and pictures too!)

[dalegg 143]

In all fairness, is it really safe for royalty to fly anywhere in coach?

But for practical senses, what sort of impression Prince Charles is going to make on any skeptics regarding Global Warming in South America is beyond me even if he took a conoe down there. Do people really still admire him that much?

Edited February 14, 2009 by dalegg

[Yoink 7]

are the environmentals gonna throw a tizzy too when Charles is seen drinking from a water bottle in the rain forest

[MrsCat 6]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

me too!

[Tahoma 2,292]

are the environmentals gonna throw a tizzy too when Charles is seen drinking from a water bottle in the rain forest

I detect a king-sized load of greenhouse gas! I wouldn't blame Charles (or anyone else) for drinking bottled water in the rain forest. Anyone remotely in tune with the hiking / backpacking / camping / outdoor scene knows that you risk your health by drinking water straight out of a river or lake. Those parasites can be unforgiving for weeks, months, or even years. I use a backpacking water filter to purify my lake and river water...with iodine or halazone tablets as a backup. Or, one could simply boil their water for 15-20 minutes.

Surely you can find something else to pick on Charles and those crazies who care about planet earth.

[britty 1]

oh whatever - as if the next in line to the throne is going to be herded around on coach. Would any President do it? no. Should a future king do it? probably not. Labour MP's need to all die quickly to save the UK from becoming an even bigger cesspit than it already is.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Prince Charles is well known for being... Rather liberal with money. I could care less about this really - small potatoes next to that scandal he was involved in a few years ago.

[Jasman0717 9]

What's he supposed to do, walk

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'd say that being "environmentally sound" doesn't mean you can't ever use something that is technically anti-environment. In other words, most aircraft aren't too friendly to the environment. However, if someone infrequently flies, then the amount of damage is reduced. There are, after all, times when flying -- or using other modes of transportation -- are the only viable options.

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

me too!

Me three. Now I'm left feeling entirely disappointed. A VJ Charles bashing thread would have been far more entertaining.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

me too!

Me three. Now I'm left feeling entirely disappointed. A VJ Charles bashing thread would have been far more entertaining.

those exist, but it's a secret where they are.

[Jasman0717 9]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

me too!

Me three. Now I'm left feeling entirely disappointed. A VJ Charles bashing thread would have been far more entertaining.

those exist, but it's a secret where they are.

I seen one once but then someone moved it and I couldn't find it again

[rebeccajo 14]

oh whatever - as if the next in line to the throne is going to be herded around on coach. Would any President do it? no. Should a future king do it? probably not. Labour MP's need to all die quickly to save the UK from becoming an even bigger cesspit than it already is.

Well, they normally don't fly coach, but as I'm sure you are aware there is no British counterpart to "Air Force One".

I'm sure the MP's are fussing about the 'luxury' accomodations that has been deemed necessary for this excursion. Frankly, I don't blame them.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

pft - I thought this was going to be about VJ's Charles!

me too!

Me three. Now I'm left feeling entirely disappointed. A VJ Charles bashing thread would have been far more entertaining.

those exist, but it's a secret where they are.

I seen one once but then someone moved it and I couldn't find it again