Fans joke ‘were they desperate’ as Meghan Markle & ‘handbag’ Prince Harry are named in Time’s 100 influential list

ROYAL fans have joked that Time Magazine were “desperate” when they picked Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for their most influential list.

A Hollywood style snap of Harry and Meghan shows the Duke awkwardly hanging off his wife’s shoulder - with many comparing him to a handbag - as the couple were named among the top 100 most influential people in the world.

The couple were praised in the publication for "running towards struggle" in a world where "everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know".

But on social media they have become the butt of many jokes thanks to the photoshoot shot by Pari Dukovic.

The cover snap shows Harry wearing all black as he stands behind Meghan, wearing all white.

Two other glam photos were published by the magazine, with the couple donning matching green outfits in front of a yellow wall.

And in a more candid shot, the parents can be seen walking through a garden holding hands at they beam at each other.

One wrote: "Top 100 influential people or controversial people in the world? Were you desperate for candidates?"

Another added: "As usual, Meghan's at the front, the Handbag carrier knows his place."

Yet another fan joked: “Why does ‘Prince’ Harry’s head look like it's been airbrushed onto someone else’s body.”

While another asked: “Is Harry wearing a rug? Or just overdone the air brushing?”

And a third said: “Are you sure that’s their bodies? Looked photoshopped.”

The couple have come under fire for their placement on the list - with experts claiming they should not have placed in the top 100.

Royal expert Angela Levin, who wrote Harry: Conversations with the Prince told The Sun she believes “it's the most extraordinary misjudgement of the magazine.”

She said: “The world’s most influential people? Surely not on the values of family. 

“I don’t see how you can crown someone as influential when they are so bitter, and angry with her in-laws and his own family and spouting out criticism which has often been found out to be a lie. 

“It’s absolutely baffling.

She added: “I just don't understand that, within a 100 people, how they could come into it.

“They might have done a very good job for climate change but they fly whenever they want to by private plane. Is that an influential thing?

“Is it compassion? They haven’t been too compassionate with a lot of people.”

'DISRESPECT'

However, others gushed over the news, with one saying: "We live to see this. Just look at them living their best life."

Another added: "It's the glow for me... This is what peace and happiness does."

Writing on their website shortly after the news broke, Meghan and Harry said they were "humbled to be part of this year’s TIME 100" and went on to praise the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Okonjo-Iweala, who was also shortlisted.

The couple join prestigious names who have also graced the magazine's cover - following the likes of Barack Obama, the first black US president.

Ms Levin continued: “Sure they did some good things, absolutely. But if youre saying they're the world's most influential people you have to take into account the negative.

“The lies, the disrespect they've shown a woman of 95 who is one of the most respected women in the world who recently lost her husband, just because they don't like some of the things she's said and done.”