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

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.

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

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.

Meghan's friendship with Williams goes back to 2010 when she first met her at a Super Bowl party and quickly became joint at the hip with regular phone calls and texts.

The American-born actress is said to have leaned on Williams for mentoring on how to handle the media, especially after becoming Prince Harry's girlfriend, and then a Duchess.

In May 2018, when the royal pair tied the knot, Williams said she and Meghan had "known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently."

Last months, the Sussexes enjoyed a week-long trip to Ibiza following an extended weekend in the south of France in Sir Elton John's mansion.

The couple landed in hot water for saying they will have a maximum of two children to reduce their "carbon footprint" and later taking back-to-back private jets on a whim.

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