Eco-fashion and Co.: How green do the royals live privately?

The Earthshot Prize is one of the most valuable environmental prizes in the world. Prince William launched it in 2019; At the beginning of December, this year’s winner will be honored in Boston. With his commitment, the new Prince of Wales is following in the footsteps of his father Charles, who has been publicly committed to more sustainability for decades.

Does that fit with the life that Charles and other European royals lead? Numerous flights by private jet or helicopter, large castles that are mostly empty, heavy limousines, magnificent state banquets and constantly changing wardrobes – the carbon footprint of many royals is enormous. Read the GALA Sustainability Check to find out who did best.

England

The Queen was known to switch off the lights even in the castle to save electricity. The other Windsors are looking for their own topics.

RESIDE
LED lamps light up in Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle uses around 40 percent hydroelectric power, Highgrove solar power plus heat from biomass.

NOURISHMENT
King Charles prefers organic, homegrown 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 by Tusting and Daniella Draper.

MOBILITY
Charles had his Aston Martin converted to run on bio-fuel made from white wine and whey.

Norway

Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit like to hike and spend their holidays in nature reserves and log cabins.

RESIDE
Save energy, reduce plastic: The heir to the throne is trying to live as sustainably as possible on 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 power.

NOURISHMENT
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 wore a second-hand dress that 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 appointments gives him a headache.

Monaco

Although Formula 1 cars race through the streets for a weekend and the 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 are made aware of the environment at an early age and recently took part in World Cleanup Day with him.

RESIDE
To reduce CO2 emissions, the Grimaldi Palace is heated with bio-fuel made from rapeseed oil.

NOURISHMENT
Princess Charlène is largely a vegetarian. She gets her fruit and vegetables from her own Roc Agel estate.

FASHION
Not necessarily sustainable, but beautiful: in addition to the Swiss label Akris, Charlène prefers the big French fashion houses.

MOBILITY
Although Albert has a vintage car collection, the prince drives a Lexus LS Hybrid on a daily basis.

Sweden

King Carl Gustaf is Honorary Chairman of the Boy Scouts. His daughter Victoria also enjoys going out in nature with her children Estelle and Oscar.

RESIDE
Since 2018, 600 solar panels on the roof of the Royal Palace in Stockholm have been generating electricity. The complex was a birthday present for the monarch.

NOURISHMENT
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 family keeps their own bees, whose honey they enjoy.

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 even races. eco-balance? incidental.

Netherlands

All Dutch, King Willem-Alexander is passionate about coastal and water protection.

RESIDE
Willem-Alexander wanted to install a solar system on the roof of Huisten Bosch Castle in The Hague. But the government prohibited this with reference to the monument protection.

NOURISHMENT
She freely admits that Queen Máxima can’t cook. Everything that she puts on her plate, rather not.

FASHION
Máxima is known for her colourful, extravagant outfits. The queen thinks sustainably and wears her clothes several times – mostly in new, sophisticated combinations.

MOBILITY
Willem-Alexander owns a Tesla, but also often takes the bike or the train. Exception: when the family flies to a holiday home in Greece, the king personally steers the private jet and then the motor yacht.

Spain

Ever since Felipe took over the throne, he has made efforts to reduce royal expenses. Ecological criteria hardly play a role here.

RESIDE
It is thanks to Felipe’s mother that the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid is recycled: Ex-Queen Sofía is against the fact that so much paper is used.

NOURISHMENT
Sofía is a vegetarian and rejects bullfights. A rarity in Spain.

FASHION
Ever since her daughters caught up with them in height, Letizia swapped clothes with Leonor and Sofía. At the banquet in Stockholm, she wowed in a dark blue gown from the H&M Conscious Collection.

MOBILITY
Felipe recently ordered a Mercedes Maybach S 600 Guard. The almost five-ton, tank-like sedan is a real gas guzzler.

Denmark

Copenhagen is considered a pioneer against climate change. And the royals are also involved.

RESIDE
Amalienborg in everyday life, Gråsten in summer, Fredensborg for special occasions – Queen Margrethe moves between her palaces as she pleases. Resource-saving is different.

NOURISHMENT
You don’t throw food away! Crown Princess Mary thinks so too – and has therefore turned the palace kitchen inside out.

FASHION
Mary is interested in sustainably produced fashion and particularly supports Danish labels. Also, she wears her clothes more than once.

MOBILITY
Even as a crown prince, the quickest way to get through Copenhagen’s heavy traffic is by bike. For longer distances, the family uses a Tesla.

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