Harry and Meghan are named on Time magazine's list of the 'world's 100 most influential people' alongside fellow 'icons' Dolly Parton and Naomi Osaka in VERY airbrushed photo shoot as they are praised for giving a 'voice to the voiceless'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have said they are 'humbled' to be the cover stars of Time magazine's 2021 list of the 100 most influential people on the planet in a feature that includes an 'awkward' photoshoot and a gushing tribute from a friend who praises them for 'giving a voice to the voiceless' and 'running toward the struggle' rather than living a quiet life in their California mansion.
The US publication released a glossy and heavily-airbrushed cover on Harry's 37th birthday showing the Duke of Sussex stood behind his wife with his arms on her right shoulder in the 'icons' section of the annual line-up alongside Naomi Osaka, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears and Alexei Navalny.
One critic claimed the cover photo reflected the power dynamic in the relationship, because Meghan is in front of her husband, tweeting: 'Wow, this photo speaks volumes. There is no hiding who's in control'. But Time's picture editor, Dilys Ng, who made the final decision on the cover image, said today that the portrait captures the Sussexes' 'powerful dynamic as equal partners'.
The couple responded to being named on the list of the world's most distinguished people with a post on their Archewell website that read: 'Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are not only humbled to be part of this year’s TIME 100 through the words of friend and partner José Andrés, but to also write in praise of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the publication’s annual list of Most Influential People.'
The glossy photos of the Sussexes are accompanied by a profile, branded sycophantic by critics, written by their friend and chef Mr Andrés, whose charity World Central Kitchen is loved by the Sussexes and supported financially by their Archewell foundation in India and the Caribbean.
He wrote: '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.' Mr Andrés said the couple are 'blessed through birth and talent, and burned by fame', adding: 'It would be much safer to enjoy their good fortune and stay silent. That's not what Harry and Meghan do, or who they are'.
On the cover Harry is dressed in all black and Meghan in all white on a terrace at their $14.65million mansion and then in green smiling at eachother and holding hands while walking through their estate in Montecito, California.
In another image they are in matching grey office-style clothes next to a window in outfits chosen by celebrity stylists Clare and Nina Hallwroth, who have recently dressed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, in pictures taken by Serbian Pari Dukovic. But one critic, a fellow photographer, tweeted: 'Terrible retouching job. They look CGI'.
Others wrote: 'This photo looks photoshopped. Also, the way they are positioned is very revealing: it's the Meghan show and Harry is just the supporting actor'. One critic said: 'Harry looks completely awkward peering behind his wife like this'.
Actress Kate Winslet, who is often regarded by film critics as one of the ‘preeminent actresses of her generation', and the Ugandan-British actor, Daniel Kaluuya, who portrayed Posh Kenneth in the first two seasons of the British television series Skins, are the two other Britons named on this year's list.
Harry and Meghan have agreed to be the cover stars of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people - with this new image released accompanied by a gushing profile
Harry and Meghan smile as their walk through their Californian estate in a photoshoot branded 'awkward' and 'photoshopped'
In another image they are in matching grey office-style clothes next to a window in outfits chosen by celebrity stylists Clare and Nina Hallwroth, who have recently dressed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston
The glossy photos of the Sussexes are accompanied by a profile, branded sycophantic by critics, written by their friend and chef José Andrés (pictured), whose charity World Central Kitchen is loved by the Sussexes and supported financially by their Archewell foundation in India and the Caribbean
Mr Andrés describes the famous incident when Harry was serving in Afghanistan for the British Army, when he was forced to run to his Apache helicopter when his airbase came under fire.
He wrote: 'That same sense of urgency drives Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, who has long been an active humanitarian and a powerful advocate for women and girls around the world. Springing into action is not the easy choice for a young duke and duchess who have been blessed through birth and talent, and burned by fame. That's not what Harry and Meghan do, or who they are.
'They turn compassion into boots on the ground through their Archewell Foundation. They give voice to the voiceless through media production. Hand in hand with nonprofit partners, they take risks to help communities in need—offering mental-health support to Black women and girls in the U.S., and feeding those affected by natural disasters in India and the Caribbean.
'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'.
There is no mention of Harry and Meghan's rift with the Royal Family or the series of bombshell interviews including the one with Oprah where they accused a mystery royal of racism towards Archie and said aides ignored Meghan when she was pregnant and suicidal.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their third wedding anniversary in May by revealing plans to build a disaster relief centre in India to help battle Covid-19 and 'heal' the virus-ravaged nation in their tie up with José Andrés' World Central Kitchen.
The building in Mumbai will be based on the blueprint of one the couple's Archewell foundation has already built on the Caribbean island of Dominica, where locals can get free food and medical care including a coronavirus vaccination.
Harry's family put their problems aside as the Queen sent best wishes to Prince Harry on his 37th birthday, sharing a selection of photos highlighting her grandson's charity efforts while he was a working royal.
The Duke of Sussex, who has quit royal duties and is currently living in an £11m mansion in California also received birthday greetings from the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Poignantly, Prince Charles shared throwback photos with his younger son, amid a rift that Harry made public during his bombshell interview with Oprah.
Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton kept their message simple, posting a solo portrait of the Duke with the caption: 'Happy birthday Prince Harry,' and a red balloon emoji.
It's not known how the Duke will celebrate his birthday, but Meghan recently marked her 40th with her own endeavor - the 40x40 project - in which she asked high profile people to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women going back to work.
The birthday wishes come after Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie - who penned the biography with Carolyn Durand and released an updated version last month - said Duke and Duchess of Sussex are 'making very little progress' in reconciling with the royal family.
He said Prince Harry and Meghan were 'desperate to get their story out there' when they gave their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview earlier this year.
Appearing on Good Morning America today, Omid claimed the couple and the royal family both want all involved to take 'accountability and ownership' for their role in the rift.
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