Prince Harry's Quirky Habit Drives Meghan Up The Wall

Even members of the royal family can get into marital spats about maintaining their household. In the 2018 documentary Prince, Son, and Heir: Charles at 70, Prince Harry talked about what he has learned from his father, Prince Charles, who happens to be an avid environmentalist. The new California resident said, "[Prince Charles is] a stickler for turning lights off. And that’s now something that I’m obsessed with as well." Conserving energy usage is an admirable habit to have. However, Meghan Markle allegedly isn't such a fan of turning all of the lights out, as Harry explained, “My wife certainly goes, ‘Well, why turn the lights off? You know, it’s dark.’ I go, ‘We only need one light. We don’t need, like, six.’” Nevertheless, the new dad recognizes the importance of carrying on his own father's good habits. Harry continued, "All of a sudden it becomes a habit and those small habit changes he's making, every single person can do. And I think it's one of the key lessons that he taught us." Harry's older brother Prince William is also thoughtful about his own electricity usage. In the documentary, the Duke of Cambridge shared, "I know, I've got serious OCD on light switches now, which is terrible." Aside from making sure the lights aren't overused at his many different homes, Prince Charles has adopted some other environmentally conscious habits at all of his properties. In 2010, he had solar panels installed at Clarence House, his primary place of residence, and in 2016, he got new solar panels. The Clarence House Instagram account documented the new installation, and revealed, "[T]hey are expected to generate over 6,000 kWh electricity each year! This is about the same as the electricity used by two typical households." Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles also have a Welsh property, comprised of two different cottages, according to Wales Online. The materials used to build Prince Charles' Welsh property came from local companies, in addition to using materials already on the property, in an effort to be sustainable. Additionally, the cleaning products at the home have been selected to minimize their environmental impact. Even the kitchen sink has a sewage system that offers a natural way to filter water. The outdoor gardens are free of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. And, of course, there's the lighting. The whole property has energy-efficient appliances, which include low-energy lighting, and most likely, an emphasis on making sure the lights are not overused. While Prince Harry attributes his love for the environment to his father, anyone can find out how it feels to live like Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, since their residence in Wales is also available to rent on occasion. In June 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle highlighted organizations that have been working toward environmental changes on their now-defunct Instagram page. Their Instagram post included a statement from Prince Harry himself. He explained, "With nearly 7.7 billion people inhabiting this Earth, every choice, every footprint, every action makes a difference." And being responsible with light switches is obviously included in those actions. While it's great that the couple preaches about environmental responsibility, they have faced some major heat for some of their actions. In August 2019, CNN reported that Meghan and Harry, with their son Archie, were photographed boarding a private plane. Elton John said he paid for the plane, since the family was visiting his home. People felt that using a private plane was hypocritical, given their very public stance on climate change. In September 2019, Prince Harry addressed the backlash during a speech he gave in Amsterdam. The prince explained, "I spend 99% of my life traveling the world by commercial. Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure my family [is] safe and it's genuinely as simple as that." Harry continued, "We could all do better. And while no one is perfect, we all have a responsibility for our own individual impact." Sometimes, part of achieving that balance involves turning a light switch off, even if it annoys a spouse. Ultimately, both Harry and Meghan seem committed to saving the environment, which can only be a good thing in the long run, even if Harry's light switch obsession is annoying in the short run. #PrinceHarry #MeghanMarkle