Charter flight for PM as Prince Charles takes plane

THERESA MAY was forced to take a costly charter flight on her Middle East tour because the Prince of Wales was using her official plane for a trip round Europe.

The Prime Minister has landed back in London after three days of discussions about trade and security issues.

But taxpayers will be left with a bigger bill after the RAF Voyager A330 was secured by Charles.

His entourage includes his personal doctor, an artist to capture scenic vistas, and a hairdresser for the Duchess of Cornwall. But many seats on the Voyager have been left empty during the visit, which included stops in Romania and Italy.

Mrs May has spent three days visiting Jordan and Saudi Arabia on a Boeing 757.

Under her predecessor, David Cameron, one aircraft from the Voyager fleet was refitted at a cost of £10 million to provide transport for ministers and members of the Royal Family.

Ministers said the conversion would save the taxpayer £775,000 a year in the cost of private charters while the aircraft would still be available for its primary air-to-air refuelling role when it is not being used for VIP travel.

A No.10 official said: “Ever since we first thought up the idea of the Voyager, it was always designed for use by the Queen and the PM (or anyone attending international events representing the Queen or PM).

“The Prince of Wales is using it right now as he is representing the Queen on this tour he is on.

“Inevitably, there are clashes in scheduling. On a previous occasion, the PM used it and the Prince of Wales chartered an aircraft. This time, it is the other way round.”