Meghan And Harry - He Doesn't Like Being Second Best

After finally breaking free of the shadow of his older brother, the prince is being eclipsed by his wife

- Kylie Walters

Waking up on September 15, Prince Harry had many reasons to celebrate. Not only was it his 37th birthday, but the Duke of Sussex was content in the knowledge that he would realize his dream of being seen as more than just the “spare heir” to the British throne due to his emergence as a power player on the international stage.

On Harry’s special day, it was announced that he and his wife Meghan Markle, 40, were named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2021. A shot of the couple, taken by Pari Dukovic at their Montecito home in California, ran as one of the seven available covers of the prestigious issue.

“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,” chef José Andrés, who has partnered with the couple’s Archewell Foundation, wrote for the magazine. “They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle,” he added.

In the snap that graced the front of Time, Harry posed behind the former actress with his hand resting on her shoulder, while Meghan stood in the prominent position at the front. But it wasn’t long before Harry’s joy over their success turned to despair after he was mercilessly mocked online about the photo.

Common criticisms included that the picture looked “heavily airbrushed” and the couple looked “plastic”. Multiple memes soon followed portraying Harry as a hairstylist showing Meghan her new highlights and layers.