Prince Harry says he flies private jets to protect his family but admits ‘no one’s perfect’ and ‘we can all do better’

PRINCE Harry has said he only flies on private jets to protect his family - today admitting "no one is perfect" during an eco-warrior talk.

The 34-year-old pointed out he flew on commercial aircraft "99 per cent of the time" but "unique" situations sometimes meant he needed to keep his family "safe".

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His defence comes just a month after he was criticised for jetsetting on four private planes in just 11 days during the summer.

He and wife Meghan Markle jetted to Nice and Ibiza over barely two weeks in August, creating seven times the normal amount of carbon emissions on the flights.

But as the new dad today launched his new eco-tourism project in Amsterdam, he argued he always ensured his travel was carbon neutral.

Speaking today at the A'Dam Tower, he told the crowd: "Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe, it's genuinely as simple as that.

"As I said in my speech - it is about balance. If I have to do that - and it's not a decision I would want to take - I would ensure, as I have done previously and I will continue to make sure I do, is balance. I have always offset my CO2."

While no one is perfect, we all have a responsibility for our own individual impact

Prince Harryon sustainable travel

And the prince argued he travelled "99 per cent" of the time on commercial flights.

He added: "We could all do better.

"While no one is perfect, we all have a responsibility for our own individual impact.

"The question is what we do to balance it out."

Prince Harry, who had flown to Amsterdam on a commercial flight yesterday, encouraged people to be more conscious about their travel as he launched his initiative Travalyst, which he has been working on for three years.

Harry admitted "I am not a tourism or business expert", but added: "Sometimes the scale of the conservation crisis feels overwhelming and that individual actions can't make a difference.

"I've certainly felt that - but I've learned that we cannot dismiss the idea of trying to do something, just because we can't do everything."

PREACHING PRINCE

The speech, promoting the eco-tourism project with Booking.com, Sky Scanner, TripAdvisor and Visa, comes after Harry took a number of trips on private jets during his summer.

A royal source previously admitted it "has not been lost on him" that the criticism he has faced over his own travel could overshadow the campaign - the first for the new Sussex Foundation.

Harry and wife Meghan Markle, 38, had been snapped in the South of France last month after enjoying a break at Sir Elton John's palatial £15million pad.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew on a 12-seater Cessna plane, which would have cost more than £20,000 to hire, that generates seven times the emissions per person when compared to a commercial flight.

And earlier in August, the couple flew to Ibiza to celebrate Meghan's 38th birthday in style with a six-day trip.

Prince Harry also headed to a super secret Google Camp event in Sicily on July 30, giving an impassioned barefoot speech about climate change to celebs believed to include Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Campbell, Stella McCartney and Harry Styles.

He also repeated his vow to only have two kids because of his eco-concerns.

The new dad was previously defended by high profile celebs including Elton John - who revealed he had paid for the couple's trip to France and made the flight carbon neutral.

Taking to Twitter, the singer wrote: "After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquillity of our home.

"To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight."

But GMB host Piers Morgan immediately hit out today, writing on Twitter: "Prince Harry preaching about the environment again. He can do this, or be a constant private-jet-setting celebrity. Not both."

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It comes after Meghan Markle hired a crisis management firm that once represented Harvey Weinstein in a bid to improve her image.

She has hired Sunshine Sachs — a firm whose clients included the late pop star Michael Jackson, who has been accused of paedophilia.

In a massive break with royal tradition, the Duchess went behind the backs of Buckingham Palace advisers to hire the company, known for using the so-called “dark arts” of public relations to improve the celebs’ reputations.

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