Royal fans are confused by one strange detail of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new photos

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have graced the cover of Time magazine this month and—surprise, surprise—the Internet has a lot to say about the chosen photos. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Time 100 magazine cover has sparked major backlash from fans. 
• The couple's portraits have been met by a divided reaction, with many fans criticizing them for being overly edited. 
• In other royal news, Prince William looked dapper in a tuxedo as he stepped out to honor NHS heroes.
  

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have appeared on the cover of Time magazine after making its 2021 list of the 100 most influential people. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s inclusion in the annual Time 100, which recognizes the individuals who made the largest impact on the world over the year, was complemented by a glowing article written by their friend, Jose Andrés, who praised the couple's "compassion" for others. 

"In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know, the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don’t know. They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle," the world-class chef gushed. 

The inclusion of Meghan and Harry on the list has sparked a strong reaction from the public, with many questioning the couple’s right to receive the prestigious honor. Despite their ongoing philanthropic projects—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked for donations to vaccines for Archie's birthday and highlighted the importance of mental health in The Me You Can't See with Oprah Winefrey—not everyone believes they deserve the recognition. 

And it’s not just the accolade itself that’s received backlash. 

The magazine's portraits of Meghan and Harry, which were shot by renowned photographer Pari Dukovicat at their $14 million Santa Barbara mansion, have also stirred controversy. 

The cover photo depicts the Duke and Duchess standing next to each other against a forest background and staring directly into the camera. Harry, wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and beaded bracelet, is resting his hand on Meghan's shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. 

The Duchess, rocking a blown-out long hairdo and light makeup, is styled in a contrasting crisp white shirt dress and thick gold bangle—as well as her iconic engagement ring, of course. They are posing so that they appear at almost the exact same height—a decision that may communicate the equality of their marriage. 

While plenty of people hailed Dukovicat's photo of the couple, others have criticized its angles and editing. 

"Am I the only one that thinks this picture looks really weird? Not based on the people in it, just...Harry is half-sitting in a way that makes the angle weird," one person tweeted. 

"That cover photo especially is extremely strange," another Twitter user commented. 

A number of people also accused Time of using photo editing software on the couple, with many claiming the images look fake and unnatural. 

"Looks like a really bad case of photoshop," said one person. 

"Looks a bit too ‘plasticky’? The photoshop is rich on this one," another critic commented. 

Fortunately, not everyone had such an adverse reaction to the photos. Meghan and Harry's fans were quick to come out in their defense, with many celebrating the 'power couple' for their refusal to buckle under the criticism. 

"Congratulations to them. So well deserved! Princess Diana would be so proud! I bet the Queen is very proud of her beloved Prince Harry," one person wrote. 

"I so love this!!! They are stunning but more importantly, they represent positive Change and a force for goodness. Well done!" another fan commented.