Eco-warriors Prince Harry and Meghan travel 83,000 miles this year

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have travelled almost 83,000 miles by plane so far this year.

The couple, who stood down as senior working royals in 2020, continue to promote a number of causes through their organisation, Archewell, and have travelled across the world promoting these issues.

Express.co.uk has totalled up the number of air miles the couple has taken – either on individual or joint work trips – so far this year and the numbers are eye-opening.

In total, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have travelled 82,908 miles by plane for work events. The figure does not include internal flights on their visits to Nigeria and Colombia, nor private holidays.

This equates to more than three trips around the world – as the circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles.

The whopping number of air miles also totals 33,357kg of carbon dioxide emissions – with 972 trees needed to offset the flight carbon, according to Saving Nature.

The website explains that flight carbon dioxide emissions are based on 90kg of CO2 per passenger each hour, an 80 percent flight occupancy rate, and a radiative forcing factor of two.

The 82,908 miles is a combination of both Harry and Meghan’s travel from January 2024 to October 2024 – and doesn’t include the Duke’s return flight from South Africa to LA as he’s yet to fly home.

When comparing the couple’s individual totals, it’s the duke who has racked up the most air miles with 45,852 miles due to his numerous solo trips this year.

Harry has flown back to the UK four times this year, and also undertaken visits to New York, Lesotho and Johannesburg in recent weeks. He’s also undertaken several work trips in the USA, travelling to Las Vegas, Texas and San Francisco for summits and award ceremonies.

Meghan meanwhile has undertaken no solo trips this year.

The remaining air miles – 37,056 – were when the couple travelled together.

In January they travelled to Jamaica for the premier of Bob Marley: One Love, then visited Vancouver for the Invictus Games countdown a month later.

Other joint trips include a trip to Vegas where Meghan spoke on a keynote panel for this year’s South by Southwest and their visits to Nigeria and Colombia.

The bulk of the Duke’s trips this year are understood to have been commercial trips.

Harry has been outspoken about the environment for years, launching Travalyst in 2019 to create a “bold global initiative to change the impact of travel, for good.”

As a result, he has often come under criticism for using private jets.

But he’s defended his use of them in the past, stating that he uses them rarely, for safety reasons, and takes steps to offset his carbon footprint.

Carbon offset programmes help travellers compensate for the carbon dioxide emissions they cause by paying a fee that goes to reducing CO2 by a similar amount, usually by planting trees.

In 2019, Harry explained that 99 percent of the time he flies commercially but there are “unique circumstances” in which he feels he has to fly privately to ensure the safety of his family.

He said: “Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity [to fly on private planes] based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe – it’s as simple as that.”

“For me, it’s about balance. It’s not a decision I would want to take, but if I have to do that, I will ensure that I balance out the impact that I have,” he added.

The Royal Family regularly use air travel for their day-to-day engagements, something the Palace say is necessary due to the reduced travel time, flexibility and easier access to remote areas

The 2023-2024 Sovereign Grant Report, published in July, revealed that 170 helicopter journeys were taken and 44 charter flights.

But the Palace are taking steps to become greener, with two existing State Bentleys due to undergo refurbishment to enable them to run on biofuel and purchasing two new helicopters will will be able to run partially on sustainable fuel.

January 

• Harry and Meghan: LA to Kingston, Jamaica from the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love = 5,582 miles (return trip)

Total = 5,582

February 

• Harry: LA to Heathrow to see King Charles following his cancer diagnosis = 10,912 miles (return trip)
• Harry: LA to Las Vegas to present the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award = 472 miles (return trip)
• Harry and Meghan: LA to Vancouver for the Invictus Games one year to go countdown event = 2,162 miles (return trip)

Total = 13,546

March 

• Harry and Meghan: LA to Texas to celebrate International Women’s Day at South By Southwest = 2,470 miles (return trip)

• Harry: LA to San Francisco for the BetterUP Uplift Summit = 674 miles (return trip)

Total = 3,144 miles

April 

• Harry and Meghan: LA to Florida for the Royal Salute Polo Challenge = 4,436 miles (return trip)

Total = 4,436 miles

May 

• Harry: LA to Heathrow for the Invictus Games thanksgiving service at St Paul’s and an event with Scotty’s Little Soldiers = 10,912 miles (return trip)

• Harry and Meghan: LA to Nigeria to support the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games and to promote mental health for young people = 15,450 miles (return trip)

Total = 26,362 miles

August

• Harry and Meghan: LA to Colombia to highlight internet safety and showcase the country’s cultural heritage = 6,956 miles

• Harry: LA to Heathrow for the funeral of his uncle Lorde Fellowes = 10,912 miles (return trip)

Total = 17,868 miles

September

• Harry LA to New York for Climate Week and to promote his philanthropic causes = 2469 miles (single trip)

• Harry: New York to Heathrow to attend the WellChild Awards in London = 3451 miles (single trip)

Total = 5,920 miles

October

• Harry: Heathrow to Lesotho to visit the Sentebale charity he co-founded in 2006 = 5826 miles (single trip)
• Harry: Lesotho to Johannesburg for more charity work = 224 miles (single trip)

Total = 6,050 miles