Meghan Markle catches last-minute commercial flight to New York City to watch pal Serena Williams play at the US Open final

Meghan Markle catches last-minute commercial flight to New York City to watch pal Serena Williams play at the US Open final
Meghan Markle (Source:Getty Images)

Meghan Markle took a last-minute commercial flight to watch her friend Serena Williams play the US Open final in New York.

The Duchess of Sussex reportedly flew alone, leaving husband Prince Harry and their four-month-old son Archie in Windsor, Daily Mail reports. The royal reportedly flew first class for her two-day trip, and her journey to and from New York is expected to generate at least 986kg of carbon dioxide.

Williams, 37, faces Bianca Andreescu in Queens on Saturday as the former world number one tries once again to equal the all-time grand slam record.

Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd after winning her Women's Singles semi-final match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on day eleven of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Meghan's trip comes shorts after the royal couple was criticized for taking four trips by private jet in 11 days last month.

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The Duchess stayed up until 1.30 am UK time to watch the semi-final, per reports, and immediately booked a flight to New York at about 8.30 am Friday. She's expected to return to Britain on Sunday. "It is a last-minute trip," a source told The Times. "Excited to support her friend, and then come back."

Ever since Williams won her quarter-final on Wednesday, Meghan is believed to have been contemplating traveling across the Atlantic to attend the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.

This would be Meghan's first trip to her home country since her baby shower in February. At the time, she reportedly partied for five nights straight with her celebrity friends at a $70,000-a-night penthouse.

The young mother faced backlash in Britain following the soiree that was hosted by Williams and her longtime pal Jessica Mulroney with an estimated bill of $406,200.

On that occasion, Meghan flew to and from the US on a private jet with her buddy Amal Clooney, who is said to have footed the bill for the 13-hour round trip, which cost £13,277 ($16,343) an hour.