A host of A-list celebrities have faced an angry backlash after they travelled to a climate change conference in Italy in a fleet of supercars, expensive yachts and more than 100 private jets.
Guests at the secretive Google Camp were accused of hypocrisy after they gathered to discuss the environment while leaving a considerable carbon footprint of their own.
Some 114 fuel-guzzling planes are scheduled to land in Palermo for the event, according to Italian media, while others brought their super-yachts to a three-day conference whose guests include Katy Perry and Harry Styles.
BBC presenter Andrew Neil was among those to point out the irony, saying: ‘Scores of celebrities and the rich have arrived in Sicily for a Google conference. They came in 114 private jets and a flotilla of super yachts. The conference is on global warming.’
Prince Harry reportedly gave a barefoot speech about saving the planet, although Buckingham Palace has refused to confirm whether he went or how he got there.
‘This is not something we are commenting on,’ a spokeswoman told MailOnline.
Prince Harry is said to be on the guest list alongside Barack Obama and Leonardo DiCaprio for Google’s Italian climate change conference this week
Celebrities including Katy Perry, pictured, are attending the three-day conference in Sicily. She was dropped off on the megayacht Rising Sun, with other wealthy attendees bringing their private jets
Chris Martin performed at the the Temple of Hera at the Paestum Archaeological UNESCO World Heritage where a host of celebrities gathered for Google Camp climate change conference. It is not clear if Martin is performing in this picture
Taking aim at the guests, Boston Robb said: ‘Tree-hugging celebs take jets to extravagant Google Camp. Ahhh yes they’ll all ‘talk’ about climate change once they all arrive privately in their own jets and yachts.’
Former U.S. House candidate Elizabeth Heng joined in the criticism, saying: ‘How ironic. For all this talk about saving the earth, 114 private jets chartered to attend this conference. Eliminating carbon footprint, eh?’
Another Twitter user said: ‘Look, in theory the google camp is a good idea but it’s ironic that all the celebs turn up in private jets and superyachts… then talk about saving the world at a decadently extravagant Italian resort.
‘Hope they spend some time discussing their own impact on the environment.’
One commenter described them as the ‘Greenerati’ and scorned them for showing ‘climate concern’ while flying on private planes.
Gregory Taylor took aim at ‘rich people most likely flying in on private jet and then lecturing us on climate change’.
Another Twitter user said: ‘Is there anything more hypocritical than a bunch of rich people flying their private jets across the world to sit on yachts and discuss the future of our planet?’
Supermodel Naomi Campbell was among the guests and reportedly gave a speech about Nelson Mandela at the secretive event.
The elite guests at the secretive Google Camp faced a backlash over their own carbon footprint after they arrived in expensive cars and private jets
The A-listers were branded ‘hypocritical’ and mocked as the ‘Greenerati’ after leaving their own considerable carbon footprint
Also present but managing to avoid detection according to those reports is Tom Cruise.
Barack Obama was also rumoured to be among those attending the event, but has not been spotted so far.
Orlando Bloom, Stella McCartney, Diane Von Furstenberg and Gayle King were also spotted arriving at the Verdura Resort in Sicily for the welcome dinner on Monday.
On Tuesday, even more guests arrived at the property, with Nick Jonas and new wife Priyanka Chopra leading the charge of celebrities heading to the island for the three-day conference which is believed to have begun on Monday and finished last night.
Styles was seen behind the wheel of a luxury car while driving with his friends Jeff Azoff and Ben Winston to the temple.
Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalia, who later performed on stage on Tuesday, posted an picture of herself getting ready for the event and then walking around the temple ruins.
Coldplay also performed at the temple on the final night on Wednesday.
David Geffen’s yacht the Rising Sun dropped off Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom on Monday, but then continued on its way up the Italian coast
Orlando Bloom, Diane Von Furstenberg, Barry Diller arrive at the seventh annual ‘Google Camp
Actor Bradley Cooper was seen arriving by car at the VIP summer retreat hosted by Google
Ciao bella: Google Camp guests are encouraged to bring their families, just like at the Allen & Company conference in Idaho that runs a few weeks prior, and there is no shortage of activities (Rosalia performing on Tuesday night)
Vehicles parked at the Google Camp event where tech giants and celebrities flocked to Sicily for the VIP climate change conference
Prince Harry also attended the event back in 2017 – and may have taken Meghan Markle along with him.
The pair made their first public appearance together at a polo match in Ascot in May that year, and a week after the Google conference she was spotted in London with her mother celebrating her birthday.
The event, created by Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, sees some of the world’s wealthiest business leaders and tech gurus discussing various issues in morning sessions before relaxing in the Italian sunshine in the afternoon.
This year’s secretive camp, where social media is banned and the itinerary locked behind a password-protected site, will focus on tackling global warming, reports the New York Post.
One attendee said: ‘There will likely be discussions about online privacy, politics, human rights, and of course, the environment, which makes it highly ironic that this event requires 114 private jets to happen.’
Luxury megayacht the Andromeda, which is owned by billionaire Kiwi Graeme Hart has been spotted just off shore, as has Barry Diller’s sailing vessel Eos.
The Sicilian resort boasts two 18-hole golf courses, a tennis academy and one of the largest spa complexes in all of Europe on its over one mile of private coastline
Singer Katy Perry and Belgian fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg travelling to the event
US business magnate and film producer David Geffen being chauffeured to the star-studded climate change event
These A-List stars were spotted in Monaco after attending the Google Camp. From left to right in the back: Sacha Baron Cohen, Noel Gallagher, Woody Harrelson, Lars Ulrich, Bono, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Gates. Front: Guy Oseary, JR
114 private planes are expected to land at Palermo Falcone Borsellino airport for Google Camp
There was a heavy police presence at the Google Camp where a host of A-list stars turned up for the secretive event
David Geffen’s Rising Sun did swing by briefly on Monday to drop off Perry and Bloom, but then continued on its way up the Italian coast.
As well as private jets and megayachts, there are buses to herd guests around and a helicopter pad.
After morning sessions, afternoons are free for guests to relax around the complex and spa, with trips around the coast, to local wineries and to tourist hot spots on offer.
The resort boasts two 18-hole golf courses, a tennis academy and one of the largest spa complexes in all of Europe on its over one mile of private coastline.
There are a number of suites and private rooms as well as three villas for guests to stay.
Those villas look out on to individual pools as well as the property’s massive infinity pool and stunning private beach, filled with imported white sand, a jetty and even a small carpet to take pampered stars into the crystal blue ocean waters.
On the final night, Google spends close to $100,000 renting the 2,500-year-old Valley of the Temples ruins for a concert and sit-down meal, with Sting performing there last summer.
Google’s VP of engineering Benjamin Treynor Sloss with his wife Christine headed to the event on Monday
On the final night, Google spends close to $100,000 renting the 2,500-year-old Valley of the Temples ruins for a concert and sit-down meal. Pictured: the Temple of Hera lit up in 2018