Charles’s annual report, published yesterday, included his carbon footprint for the first time and revealed he and his household produced emissions of 3,425 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2006-7.

The report said the Prince and his household reduced its emissions by 9 per cent in the year and had vowed to cut a further 12.5 per cent by 2012. He spent £30,000 – around £20,000 of his own cash and £10,000 of taxpayers’ money
– offsetting that pollution by investing in green schemes.

Environmentalists congratulated him for leading the way in combating climate change – but pointed out he could do more by cutting his household’s travel, which accounts for 75 per cent of emissions.

Darren Johnson, of the Green Party, said: “Prince Charles is creating a lot of carbon emissions and he needs to reduce them, not just offset them.”

The report revealed that Charles paid £3.434million in income tax and VAT last year. But 44 MPs, angry that his Duchy of Cornwall estate is not subject to corporation or capital gains tax like other similar-sized businesses, signed an early day motion calling for the Prince to open up his accounts to more independent scrutiny.

●The Prince has been sacked as a vegetable supplier to Sainsbury’s after carrots grown on his organic farm at Highgrove were found to be rotten. They had deteriorated after being stored over winter.