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Britain's Prince Charles takes lengthy helicopter journey after energy saving speech

Britain's Prince Charles has come under fire after taking an 80-mile trip in a private helicopter just days after he spoke passionately about saving energy.

The 66-year-old royal - who is known to have travelled with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, in his mother Queen Elizabeth's helicopter from Highgrove, Gloucestershire to Ascot, Berkshire - will have burned 1.3 tons of carbon during the journey just two days after urging the public to conserve energy.

In a video recorded for annual Earth Hour, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, Earth Hour is exactly what it says it is.

"One hour for the whole world to think about this extraordinary planet that sustains us all.

"At 8.30pm on Saturday the 28th March hundreds of millions of people from across the world will come together and switch off their lights in a spectacular display.

"It is a symbolic and powerful reminder that together we have the power to change things.

"It should also remind us that we do not have much time in which to make those changes."

However, a royal aide has since admitted there was "nothing unusual" about the way the couple had travelled and added they were desperate to attend the Prince's Countryside Fund race day, which was held at Ascot on Sunday (29.03.15).