THRONE AWAY
As Harry says ‘no more excuses’ for plastic pollution, Kensington Palace shop is full of it
Christmas cards in plastic Glittering crowns
Harry and Meghan at beach clear-up in Australia is in sharp contrast to Prince Harry’s comments that single-use plastic should be outlawed.
During their current trip to Australia and New Zealand Harry, 34, visited South Melbourne Beach with the Duchess of Sussex, 37, to meet children trying to keep the area clear of litter.
He told them: “There is literally plastic everywhere. And, you know, microplastics are a real problem, especially the microplastics from fast fashion. Did you know that’s one of the biggest culprits?”
He brought it up again a week later at the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards at Sydney’s Shangri-la Hotel.
Collecting an award on the Queen’s behalf for her Commonwealth Canopy initiative – which protects rainforests – Harry warned: “We cannot continue to pollute the oceans with plastics and other wastes. We cannot stand by and let wildlife disappear from the earth and fish from the seas.”
His dad Prince Charles pitched in this week, insisting he put his head “above the parapet” on the plastic peril as a teenager and says he now has to resist saying “I told you so”.
And brother Prince William reveals in a new BBC documentary Son And Heir: Charles At 70, they “were in Norfolk on school holidays and went out litter picking with him.
“Both of us thought ‘This is normal, everyone must do it’. We’re there with our, basically, spikes, stabbing rubbish into black plastic bags.”
A spokesman for Friends of the Earth said Harry must ensure palace shops reflect people’s concerns.
Julian Kirby, its plastics campaigner, said: “It’s great to see Prince Harry raising awareness of the plight of plastic pollution, which is clogging up our oceans and destroying wildlife. A Kids toy in plastic box Dozens of small goods in plastic Plastic stickers good next step would be if he used his influence to make sure that all of the royal estates, tourist attractions and shops lead the way in cutting out singleuse plastic for the sake of our planet.” A spokesman for Historic Royal Palaces – which runs palaces and gift shops on behalf of the Queen – said it was “committed to embedding sustainable practices across six sites in our care.
“This year, we have switched to 100 per cent compostable cups and utensils in our 10 catering outlets.
“We are looking at ways to introduce more compostable options into our shops in future, and we are already using (degradable) EPI Planet Safe carrier bags across our retail outlets.”
scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk
Harry must make sure royal shops lead way for sake of the planet JULIAN KIRBY FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH