Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at a discussion over gender equality in an electric car after they were accused of hypocrisy for use of private jets
- Harry unexpectedly joined Meghan to gender equality event at Windsor Castle
- He drove her half a mile in an Audi E-tron from their home of Frogmore Cottage
- Car cost from £71,560, according to Audi, and couple had it since ‘about June’
- She said conversations on gender equality can’t happen without men part of it
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Windsor Castle for the discussion on gender equality
Prince Harry unexpectedly joined his wife Meghan at a discussion on gender equality yesterday – and they arrived in an electric car.
He drove her the half mile to the event at Windsor Castle from their home at Frogmore Cottage on the royal estate.
It comes after the couple were accused of hypocrisy for using private jets while supporting environmental campaigns.
The duke and duchess have had the car – an Audi E-tron – since ‘about June’ this year, an aide said. E-trons cost from £71,560, according to Audi’s website.
Yesterday was their first joint engagement since the controversial ITV documentary in which they admitted they were struggling with the pressures of being in the spotlight. Both looked relaxed and comfortable yesterday, and Meghan, wearing a red leather-look skirt and a red V-neck jumper, even cracked a joke about Harry accompanying her.
Kicking off the discussion, she said: ‘In terms of gender equality, which is something I have championed for a long time, I think that conversation can’t happen without men being a part of it.
At the wheel: Harry in the electric Audi E-tron which the couple have had since ‘about June’ this year, an aide said. E-trons cost from £71,560, according to Audi’s website
‘So for this reason it made complete sense to let him [Harry] join today. So thank you for letting him crash the party.’
Meghan convened the discussion with campaigners leading projects to empower women and girls in countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Iraq, Malawi, Bangladesh, Barbados and Grenada.
They were brought together by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the charity One Young World (OYW), which has been holding its international summit in London this week.
Meghan, who attended the summit’s opening ceremony on Tuesday, has been a counsellor for OYW since 2014 and has long championed women’s empowerment. She is vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Harry is its president.
The royal couple during a round table discussion on gender equality with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and One Young World at Windsor Castle
Yesterday Meghan said that gender equality was ‘also very key to the way my husband feels’, adding that ‘he has been working in this space since 2013, which a lot of people don’t notice as much’.
She and Harry then listened to women telling their stories of how they have created projects in their home countries to empower women and girls.
In August last year, only months after his wedding to Meghan, Harry ditched his top-of-the-range Audi RS6 4.0 Avant Tiptronic Quattro – it was advertised for sale through the Auto Trader website for £71,900.
The 2017-registration car, which had a top speed of 155mph, had less than 5,000 miles on the clock. The sale prompted speculation that the couple were looking for a more ‘family friendly’ vehicle.