Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be met with a huge price tag if they choose to return to the UK using a private jet.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced criticism in the past for using private jets to travel. Now, they’ll be charged more for flying privately to the UK after Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced a huge tax on private jets.
The new tax rates were announced on Wednesday. Private flights will now be taxed by an additional 50 percent, which would be the equivalent of around $585 per passenger.
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This will make flying private very costly. Commercial air travel will not be impacted. Announcing the new plans, Reeves said: “APD [Air Passenger Duty] has not kept up with inflation in recent years, so we are increasing an adjustment, meaning an increase of no more than £2 [$2.60] for a short haul economy flight.”
She continued: “But I am taking a different approach when it comes to private jet. Increasing the rate of APD by a further 50%.” Reeves added: “That is equivalent of £450 [$585] per passenger for a private jet to say… California.”
While Harry and Meghan have been known to use private jets, it’s not the only form of transport they’ve used. They have also been known to fly on commercial flights, as they did when they traveled back to the US in first class from their tour of Nigeria earlier this year.
Meghan and Harry may wish to travel to the UK to reunite with the Royal Family. While the Duchess of Sussex has not returned to the UK for several years, Harry has made a number of return trips to his home country this year.
The Duke of Sussex rushed to the UK back in February to reunite with his father King Charles after it was announced the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer. Charles and Harry enjoyed a brief 30-minute conversation together.
Harry also returned to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games with a special ceremony in St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He wasn’t joined by any members of the Royal Family during this visit.
Harry attended the WellChild awards ceremony in London earlier this month and also returned to the UK in August for his uncle’s funeral. His brother Prince William was also at the funeral, but witnesses said the pair didn’t speak.
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