Harry and Meghan’s Netflix doco called out for multiple misleading photos

Controversy is brewing as Netflix has been slammed for using multiple “fake” and “misleading” photos in Harry and Meghan’s series.

It hasn’t even been released yet, but already Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series is copping intense scrutiny.

The six-part documentary, titled Harry & Meghan, will release the first three episodes on December 8, with the streamer sharing a second trailer on Tuesday further teasing the bombshell exposé.

But attention has swiftly turned to a series of “misleading” photos used in the trailer, as multiple moments are revealed to have been taken from entirely different events.

The latest to be called out is a photo that shows Harry being hounded by British press:

A photo used in the ‘Harry and Meghan’ trailer. Picture: Netflix

The shot is actually a cropped 2007 photo of the Duke of Sussex with his ex-girlfriend of seven years, Chelsy Davy, despite the documentary being about his relationship with Meghan, 41.

In the original photo, the prince is seen with his arm around Davy as he protects her from a media scrum at Heathrow Airport.

The photo, in reality, featured his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, which was taken at Heathrow in 2007. Picture: Shutterstock/Media Mode

Body language expert Jesus Enrique Rosas pointed out the bungle on Twitter, writing, “You just can’t make this sh*t up.”

You just can't make this sh*t up. For Harry and MEGHAN's Netflix teaser they included a cropped picture of Harry... with Chelsy Davy! LMAO

WHAT IS THIS 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/eVgLLG78c8

— Jesús Enrique Rosas - The Body Language Guy (@Knesix) December 4, 2022

Photo from Harry Potter premiere

It comes after it was revealed on Monday that another photo in the trailer showing a paparazzi pack, presumably at the ready to photograph the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was actually taken at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two premiere in 2011.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun: “I don’t imagine Harry would have realised, but Netflix have been careless here as it weakens Harry’s comment about protecting his family. This fake picture weakens his point.”

Netflix used a photo of photographers from the 2011 Harry Potter premiere in London. Picture: Netflix

The original photo as it appears on stock photo agency website Alamy. Picture: Chris Jobs/Alamy

According to the publication, the photo was the first search result under the keyword “paparazzi” on leading stock image website Alamy.

‘Intrusive’ photo was approved

A journalist has hit out at the Sussexes and Netflix after a photo of Meghan and Harry with a then-baby Archie was made to look “intrusive”.

The photo in question was taken during Meghan and Harry’s infamous royal tour of South Africa in late 2019, and appears to show the royal trio during a private moment at Archbishop Tutu’s residence in Cape Town, as a camera lens cuts a seemingly imposing figure in the left corner.

Evening Standard royal editor Robert Jobson took to Twitter to dub the use of the photo “a complete travesty”, saying the moment was from an accredited, pre-approved photography pool.

This photograph used by @Netflix and Harry and Meghan to suggest intrusion by the press is a complete travesty. It was taken from a accredited pool at Archbishop Tutu’s residence in Cape Town. Only 3 people were in the accredited position. H & M agreed the position. I was there. pic.twitter.com/nvjznlloLF

— Robert Jobson (@theroyaleditor) December 5, 2022

Press pack chasing other celebrities

In the trailer released on Tuesday, Harry, 38, is heard referencing his mother Princess Diana’s death, saying, “I was terrified … I didn’t want history to repeat itself,” as a photo shows paparazzi chasing who is thought to be the Sussexes.

But photography Twitter account, Urban Pictures, has claimed the subject in that particular photo was British personality Katie Price, who was followed by press after leaving court in December last year.

Following accusations of fake footage in the first trailer, the NEW trailer for the @netflix Harry & Meghan documentary appears to use footage of @KatiePrice leaving Crawley Magistrates Court to suggest a mob of paparazzi hounding H&M. #HarryandMeghanonNetflixpic.twitter.com/NFKCedWnK5

— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) December 5, 2022

A still from the Harry and Meghan trailer uses footage of Katie Price at court. Picture: Getty Images

This grab shows the original version of the footage used in the trailer, which appears to have been flipped. Picture: Getty Images

A separate photo in the trailer shows yet another frenzied press pack – which it turns out was taken in New York as Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen left his apartment in 2019.

The photo of the paparazzi was captured as Cohen was on his way to serve time in prison for financial crimes.

The Harry and Meghan trailer appeared to use footage of Michael Cohen leaving his NYC apartment for prison. Picture: Netflix

A screenshot of the original Michael Cohen footage as it appears on the Getty Images website. Picture: Getty Images

Photo taken in 1938

Elsewhere, a photo showing a group of children waving Union Jack flags behind a cordoned off rope led viewers to believe the kids were excitedly waiting to see Meghan and Harry.

But it turns out the photo was taken in 1938 during a royal engagement for Queen Mary in Brixton, south London.

A crowd of children waving flags as seen in the Netflix doco. The photo was taken at a royal engagement for Queen Mary, wife of King George V, in 1938. Picture: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

There’s no denying Meghan and Harry’s relationship has been the subject of relentless media interest, but the use of unrelated photos and vision in the trailer, paired with Harry saying damning statements like, “I had to do everything I could to protect my family,” has done little to bolster their credibility.

When will Harry & Meghan air?

The first three episodes will hit Netflix on December 8, while the final three episodes will be released a week later, on December 15.

The documentary’s bio has also been updated to say: “In an unprecedented and in-depth documentary series, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex share the other side of their high-profile love story.

Harry & Meghan will air December 8 on Netflix.

“Across six episodes, the series explores the clandestine days of their early courtship and the challenges that led to them feeling forced to step back from their full-time roles in the institution.

“With commentary from friends and family, most of whom have never spoken publicly before about what they witnessed, and historians who discuss the state of the British Commonwealth today and the royal family’s relationship with the press, the series does more than illuminate one couple’s love story – it paints a picture of our world and how we treat each other.

“From the critically acclaimed, two-time Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Liz Garbus, Harry & Meghan is a never-before-seen look at one of the most-discussed couples in history.”