Not only William and Kate are publicly committed to the environment. But how to keep it in everyday life? GALA takes a closer look.
The Earthshot Award is one of the most valuable environmental awards in the world. Prince William launched it in 2019; In early December, this year’s winner will be honored in Boston. With his commitment, the young Prince of Wales is following in the footsteps of his father Charles, who has publicly campaigned for more sustainability for decades.
Does this fit in with the lives that Charles and other European royals lead? Multiple flights by private jet or helicopter, vast castles that are mostly empty, heavy limousines, grand state banquets and ever-changing wardrobes – the carbon footprint of many royals is huge. Read the GALA Endurance Check to find out who did best.
England
The Queen was known to turn off the lights even in the castle to save electricity. Other Windsors are looking for their own themes.
At the 2021 Earthshot Awards in London, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales walked the green carpet in eco-chic fashion.
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LED lights are switched on at Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle uses about 40 per cent hydroelectric power, Highgrove solar power plus biomass heat.
THE FOOD
King Charles prefers organic, home-grown food. Kate and William are trying to go plastic-free at home.
FASHION
Kate is increasingly opting for sustainably produced bags and jewelry, for example from Tusting and Daniella Draper.
Mobility
Charles had converted his Aston Martin to run on biofuel made from white wine and whey.
King Charles and Queen Camilla in a converted Aston Martin.
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Norway
Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit like to hike and spend their vacations in nature reserves and log cabins.
The trash that Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon find on their walks, they take with them and throw away.
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Save energy, reduce plastic: the heir to the throne is trying to live as sustainably as possible in Gut Skaugum (located 25 kilometers southwest of Oslo) – also at the request of their children Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus. And the Royal Palace in Oslo uses solar energy.
THE FOOD
Mette-Marit is a passionate cook. Lots of fish from the region, but also sausages for the kids.
FASHION
Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs: The crown princess loves luxury labels. After all, she was wearing a second-hand dress she bought on Ebay for the state visit to Sweden.
Mobility
Haakon has been driving electric cars to commute to Oslo for 15 years. The fact that he often has to fly to meetings gives him headaches.
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Monaco
Although Formula 1 cars race through the streets for a weekend and mega yachts in the harbor make the air thick, Prince Albert is trying to make Monaco a green model state. There are e-buses everywhere. Single use plastic is prohibited. Recycling is a top priority. His twins Jacques and Gabriella have been aware of the environment from a young age and recently participated in World Cleanup Day with him.
Green fingers: Albert plants a tree in the botanical garden in Gothenburg.
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To reduce CO2 emissions, the Grimaldi palace is heated with biofuel made from coco oil.
THE FOOD
Princess Charlène is primarily a vegetarian. She gets her fruit and vegetables from her Roc Agel estate.
FASHION
Not necessarily sustainable, but beautiful: apart from the Swiss label Akris, Charlène prefers the big French fashion houses.
Mobility
Although Albert has a collection of vintage cars, the prince drives a Lexus LS Hybrid every day.
Sweden
King Carl Gustaf is Honorary Chairman of the Boy Scouts. His daughter Victoria also enjoys being outdoors with her children Estelle and Oscar.
Crown Princess Victoria and her children Estelle and Oscar participated in the Sweden Cleans Up in May.
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As of 2018, 600 solar panels on the roof of the Royal Palace in Stockholm have been producing electricity. The complex was a birthday present for the monarch.
At The Hague Castle, the crown prince’s family keep their own bees, whose honey they love.
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THE FOOD
Like her sister-in-law Sofia, Crown Princess Victoria values a balanced diet with lots of vegetables. In the garden of Haga Castle, the crown prince’s family keep their own bees, whose honey they like.
FASHION
Victoria became the first royal to walk the red carpet in a dress from H&M’s eco line. However, some are critical of her friendship with company boss Karl-Johan Persson.
Mobility
The king loves fast cars. His son, Prince Carl Philip, also competes. eco-balance? random.
Netherlands
All Dutch, King Willem-Alexander is passionate about coastal and water protection.
The Netherlands is a paradise for cyclists. It goes without saying that the royal couple Willem-Alexander and Máxima are also pedaling. But here only for the photographer, as can be seen from her clothes.
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Willem-Alexander wanted to install a solar system on the roof of Huisten Bosch Castle in The Hague. But the government stopped this in connection with the protection of monuments.
THE FOOD
She freely admits that Queen Maxima does not know how to cook. Everything she puts on her plate, rather not.
FASHION
Máxima is known for her colorful and extravagant clothes. The Queen thinks steadily and wears her clothes several times – mostly in new and sophisticated combinations.
Mobility
Willem-Alexander owns a Tesla, but also often takes the bike or train. Exception: when the family flies to a holiday home in Greece, the king personally flies the private jet and then the motor yacht.
Spain
Since Felipe took the throne, he has made efforts to reduce royal expenses. Ecological criteria hardly play a role here.
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Thanks to Felipe’s mother, the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid is recycled: Former Queen Sofia is against the fact that so much paper is used.
Diadem, order, great cloak: this is how you imagine a queen! Letizia wore a dress from H&M in Stockholm 2021.
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THE FOOD
Sofia is a vegetarian and refuses bullfights. A rarity in Spain.
FASHION
Since her daughters reached their height, Letizia changed clothes with Leonor and Sofía. At the banquet in Stockholm, she stunned in a dark blue dress from the H&M Conscious collection.
Mobility
Felipe recently ordered a Mercedes Maybach S 600 Guard. The nearly five-ton, tank-like sedan is a real gasser.
Denmark
Copenhagen is considered a pioneer against climate change. And the royals are involved too.
Frederik delivers a speech at the UN climate conference.
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Amalienborg in everyday life, Gråsten in summer, Fredensborg for special occasions – Queen Margrethe moves between her palaces as she pleases. Saving resources is different.
THE FOOD
You don’t throw away food! Crown Princess Mary thinks so too – and that’s why she turned the palace kitchen inside out.
Mary and daughter Isabella attend a nature school and examine sea creatures together.
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FASHION
Mary is interested in sustainably produced fashion and especially supports Danish labels. Also, she wears her clothes more than once.
Mobility
Even as a crown prince, the fastest way to get through Copenhagen’s heavy traffic is by bike. For longer distances, the family uses a Tesla.