Meghan and Harry criticised over latest outing

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first waved their environmental activist flags, little did they know that every move they made would soon be analysed for signs they were disingenuous.

First under a microscope was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's choice to continue using private jets, a habit they quickly abandoned.

Now, the couple has been spotted driving a Cadillac Escalade, a large vehicle reliant on petrol to run.

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, were seen getting into the car during a day out in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, where they are now residing.

British press outlets The Express and the Daily Mail have been quick to point out that Escalades are "gas-guzzling" models; the New York Post also commented on their vehicle choice.

For the weekend outing, Harry was dressed casually in jeans, blue sneakers and a grey polo shirt, wearing a brown baseball cap in an attempt to go unnoticed.

Meghan chose a summery white dress, straw hat and sunglasses.

They both wore face masks, which are mandatory in public spaces in California due to the coronavirus crisis and were closely watched by their security team.

The Duke and Duchess resigned as senior members of the British Royal Family in January 2020 and relocated to the US with their son Archie, one.

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They are currently staying at the home of celebrity friend Tyler Perry while they house hunt.

The couple are seeking to launch their new venture, charitable organisation Archewell, in the months to come, to replace the Sussex Royal brand they agreed to abandon following their resignation.

Harry has also launched environmentally friendly travel organisation Travalyst, a new partnership and global initiative promoting sustainable travel. The group also plans to help increase economic benefits from tourism for local communities.

At the 2019 launch of the eco-friendly brand in the Netherlands in 2019, Harry addressed his family's use of private jets, saying they flew on commercial aircraft "99 per cent of the time". However, the Duke explained he travelled on private jets with Meghan and baby Archie in "unique" situations in order to keep his family "safe".