Elton John has defended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their recent private jet trips abroad, insisting he paid for their travel.
The royal couple landed in Nice with their baby boy Archie last Wednesday, after flying in on a Cessna plane that is estimated to cost around £20,000 to hire.
Many criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for not taking a commercial flight, especially as it came two days after they took a private jet home from Ibiza.
It has now emerged that Meghan and Harry stayed at Elton’s private residence in Nice, prompting the Candle In The Wind singer to defend the couple against the backlash.
In a series of tweets, Elton explained: ‘I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week.’
Elton, 72, went on to mention his close relationship with Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and his ‘sense of obligation to protect’ the royal and his brother Prince William.
The musician continued: ‘After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David [Furnish] and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquility of our home.’
Elton went on to insist that he funded the private flights and says he went to great lengths to ensure it was carbon neutral.
‘To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight.
‘To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint™.’
Elton added: ‘I highly respect and applaud both Harry and Meghan’s commitment to charity,’ and called for a stop to the ‘relentless and untrue assassinations’ on Harry and Meghan’s character.
The Duke and Duchess brand themselves on being ‘eco-friendly’ and Harry attended a climate change summit in Sicily organised by Google last month, where he reportedly delivered a speech while barefoot on saving the environment.
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