William and Kate pictured taking budget flight days after Harry and Meghan's private jet storm

They took a FlyBe flight between Norwich and Aberdeen

William and Kate took a budget flight to Scotland after Harry and Meghan's private jet storm 

Days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were widely criticised for taking a private jet, Prince William and Kate have been photographed taking a budget flight with their three children.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen taking their three children, Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1, on a FlyBe flight from Norwich to Aberdeen. According to reports, the family were travelling to the Queen’s summer residence, Balmoral Castle.

"We were delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family on board one of our flights again, this time when they flew from Norwich to Aberdeen on a Flybe flight operated by Eastern Airways," a FlyBe spokeswoman said.

It comes in the same week that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with three-month-old son Archie, took a private jet to the south of France. The family were visiting the home of singer Sir Elton John, who later revealed he paid for the jet.

Critics were quick to call out the family over the jet’s carbon footprint, citing that Meghan and Harry are both outspoken on environmental issues.

Sir Elton, however, was quick to jump to the defense of the couple, saying he was "deeply distressed" by the media criticism. He said he had provided the family with the private plane to "maintain a high level of much-needed precaution".

The singer added that he has a profound sense of obligation to “protect Harry and his family from unnecessary press intrusion” because of his friendship with the royal’s late mother, Princess Diana.

Defending the royals, Sir Elton said that he wanted to support their commitment to environmental causes and had paid to compensate for the carbon impact by donating to charity.

Carbon offsetting works by allowing passengers to invest money in environmental projects such as planting trees to balance out the carbon emissions caused by jet travel.

The singer called on the media to “cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character that are spuriously crafted on an almost daily basis”.

Members of the British Royal Family often fly commercially and Prince Harry and Meghan did so when they flew with Qantas in 2018 for their tour of Australia.

Charter planes are often preferred for trips where royals need to stop in multiple countries or destinations or where security could be an issue on a scheduled flight.