Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, has faced criticism for using a private jet for two trips of less than 300 miles, potentially costing taxpayers thousands of pounds. The 54-year-old royal flew from an undisclosed location in Hampshire to Birmingham Airport before attending an event in Tamworth, then later travelled from Birmingham to Bournemouth.
The cost of hiring a Cessna Citation XL private jet for such journeys can range from £5,000 to tens of thousands of pounds, depending on the day. In contrast, a first-class train ticket from Hampshire to Birmingham would have cost around £250 per person, with a standard ticket under £100.
Graham Smith from the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic described the flights as a 'blatant abuse of public money'. He told MailOnline: 'If that were an MP they'd be in serious hot water. We need to look more seriously at the extravagance of the royals. He should be taking public transport or cars at a fraction of the cost.'
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson defended the decision, stating: 'As ever, security, effective use of time, and the need to minimise disruption to others is taken into account when decisions are taken about transport.' The Earl was on a three-day programme of events in Dorset, including engagements for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
