Prince Harry, Meghan Markle private jet scandal: Couple asked to "be careful" about royal duties

After a series of bad press, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to choose whether they want to be full-time royals or globe-trotting celebrities. Angela Levin, a royal author, said that the royal couple needs to gauge "what kind of royals they want to be," as they are currently portraying a confused persona.

Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan Markle, 38, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have been criticised for the latter's controversial birthday flight. The royal couple took a private jet to ring in the Duchess's 38th birthday in Ibiza. According to reports, they travelled on four private flights in eleven days.

Royal author Angela Levin, who was invited for a "chat" with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace, accompanied the royal to his engagements for 15 months, Express reports. Harry was still dating Meghan at the time.

Harry told Levin during their chat that it is a narrow line between being a royal and a celebrity. "I am not going to cross it and go down the celebrity route," he added then.

"While their own relationship seems hunky-dory, the type of royal role they want to pursue appears increasingly confused: dutiful public servants or globe-trotting celebrity A-listers?," Levin said. She added that the Sussexes may have "crossed that celebrity line" this month.

Harry and Meghan are known for shining the light on environmental issues. The Prince even warned against the impact of climate change in a July speech. But, the damage to the environment that was caused by their private jet trips in the last two years, will take 1400 trees a decade to offset.

The duo's four private flights in 11 days reportedly made them "cross the celebrity line." It is especially significant at a time when the Cambridges took a commercial flight to travel to Balmoral for their summer break.

During Meghan's birthday week celebration, they stayed at the £108,000 a week Sa Calma villa in Ibiza. It has seven-bedrooms, boasts of a 50m infinity pool with live-in caretakers, waitress, gym, a Range Rover with a driver and a night security guard. The couple also brought along their own chef, according to Mail Online. A yacht, butler, beauticians, bartenders, nannies, masseurs, personal trainer and yoga instructors, can all be added on request.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't join the royal family in Balmoral due to prior commitments over the bank holiday weekend. Harry attended the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, in London, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, The Sun reports that Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were spotted accompanying Queen Elizabeth to church at Balmoral on Sunday. They were all seated in the same car and the duchess appeared to be in a discussion with the queen.

Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex with their daughter Lady Louise were also present. Princess Anne, her husband Timothy Laurence, her son Peter Phillips, his wife Autumn also enjoyed the break.