Prince Charles, the UK’s usually green heir apparent, has courted unwelcome press coverage by booking an entire first class and business class section of a jumbo jet to fly to New York to pick up an environmental award.

There are 62 seats in the section booked by the Prince, who will be taking a party of 20 to collect the Global Environmental Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School’s Centre for Health and the Global Environment.

As heir to the throne, security issues must of course be considered but mathematicians will note this means the carbon footprint of the party is triple what it would have been had they only reserved one seat apiece.

The decision to book seats on a scheduled flight, rather than charter a plane, is ironically part of the Prince’s drive to reduce his household’s carbon footprint.

In November, the Prince announced he would be requesting staff use bicycles and that he would be using scheduled flights where possible rather than taking private helicopters or chartered planes.

Sam Bond

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe