Today hosts mock Prince Charles for ‘pompous, privileged’ climate change efforts

Today hosts roast ‘pompous, privileged’ Prince Charles for his bizarre climate change confession about running his vintage Aston Martin on ‘cheese and wine’


Prince Charles has received a royal roasting by Australian breakfast show Today over his bizarre confession about running his vintage car on ‘cheese and wine’.

The Prince of Wales spoke to the BBC about climate change on Monday, boasting how he’d converted his Aston Martin, which was gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II on his 21st birthday, to run on ‘surplus English white wine’ and whey from cheese production.

The Today presenters couldn’t help but mock the 72-year-old’s seemingly out of touch sentiments on Tuesday, with co-host Allison Langdon sarcastically referring to Charles as ‘a man of the people’.

Pictured: Prince Charles

‘Pompous, privileged’: The hosts of Australia’s Today show (left, Karl Stefanovic) roasted Prince Charles (right) for saying his vintage Aston Martin runs on ‘cheese and wine’

‘He’s giving back to the environment,’ co-host Karl Stefanovic dryly added.

Newsreader Alex Cullen, an outspoken republican, could barely hide his contempt for the royal environmentalist.

‘He’s relatable? Is that what you’re going to try and tell me? With an Aston Martin that runs on wine and cheese? Pompous, privileged peanuts!’ he said.

Royal fuel: The Prince of Wales spoke to the BBC about climate change on Monday, boasting how he'd converted his Aston Martin, which was gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II on his 21st birthday, to run on 'surplus English white wine' and whey from cheese production

Royal fuel: The Prince of Wales spoke to the BBC about climate change on Monday, boasting how he’d converted his Aston Martin, which was gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II on his 21st birthday, to run on ‘surplus English white wine’ and whey from cheese production

Stefanovic jokingly corrected him: ‘No, it’s not peanuts, it’s cheese!’ 

Charles’s car actually runs on a fuel called E85, which comprises 85 per cent bioethanol – a type of ethanol from plants or food products – and 15 per cent unleaded petrol.

By blending petrol with ethanol, motorists don’t need as much fossil fuel, which reduces carbon emissions and allows the vehicle to run ‘cleaner’.

Not impressed: The Today presenters couldn't help but mock the 72-year-old's seemingly out of touch sentiments on Tuesday, with co-host Allison Langdon (centre) sarcastically referring to Charles as 'a man of the people.' Right: newsreader Alex Cullen

Not impressed: The Today presenters couldn’t help but mock the 72-year-old’s seemingly out of touch sentiments on Tuesday, with co-host Allison Langdon (centre) sarcastically referring to Charles as ‘a man of the people.’ Right: newsreader Alex Cullen

Charles, a longtime environmental campaigner, said in his BBC interview he was ‘deeply worried’ about the future of the planet, and accused humans of ‘over exploiting’ and damaging nature.

Charles also said he understands the frustrations of young people and climate activists such as Greta Thunberg because they feel like ‘nobody listens’.  

Elsewhere, he revealed he doesn’t eat meat and fish on two days a week and dairy on one day, saying: ‘If more people did that it would reduce a lot of the pressure on the environment.’

Not convinced: Newsreader Alex Cullen, who is a republican, could barely hide his contempt for the royal environmentalist, saying: 'He's relatable? Is that what you're going to try and tell me? With an Aston Martin that runs on wine and cheese? Pompous, privileged, peanuts!'

Not convinced: Newsreader Alex Cullen, who is a republican, could barely hide his contempt for the royal environmentalist, saying: ‘He’s relatable? Is that what you’re going to try and tell me? With an Aston Martin that runs on wine and cheese? Pompous, privileged, peanuts!’

Eco-warrior: Charles's car actually runs on a fuel called E85, which comprises 85 per cent bioethanol - a type of ethanol from plants or food products - and 15 per cent unleaded petrol

Eco-warrior: Charles’s car actually runs on a fuel called E85, which comprises 85 per cent bioethanol – a type of ethanol from plants or food products – and 15 per cent unleaded petrol

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