Viewers claim This Morning is ‘mocking’ Harry and Meghan with lookalikes

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s announcement that they plan to step back from their royal duties has sent shockwaves around the country.

And This Morning’s decision to poke fun at the so-called ‘royal retirement’ did not sit well with viewers, as many took to Twitter to criticise the show for using lookalikes of the royal couple on Friday.

Hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford joked that they would be happy to offer the couple a job on the show to help in their quest to become financially independent, before showing the doppelgangers doing various backstage chores.

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Cheeky! This Morning tried to poke fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s [R] royal retirement by introducing lookalikes [L] did not sit well with viewers on Friday

At the start of the show, Eamonn told viewers that he and Ruth would like to help Harry and Meghan form a new role outside of the Royal Family.

He said: ‘They said they wanted to carve out a new role, so we found them one independent of the royals.’

Harry and Meghan’s lookalikes Rhys Whittock and Sylvia Aliford then arrived on the set with cups of tea in hand, and handed them to Eamonn and his wife Ruth.

Cheeky: Hosts Eamonn and Ruth joked that they were going to offer Harry and Meghan a ‘job’ on the show to help them be financially independent

Giving the pair their next task Ruth then said: ‘Thank you very much, there’s a few things in the kitchen that need setting out for Phillip later!’

The show then showed the ‘Duke and Duchess Of Sussex’ doing various chores backstage, including making coffee and ironing some of the clothes in wardrobe.

Eamonn then jokingly said: ‘Whether they could become commoners we will see, you [Ruth] could be royal though!’

Ruth explained: ‘They were looking for a new role, so we thought why not have them on this morning, giving them lots of jobs around the studio, looking after guests, wardrobe… they will be straying with us all morning.’

Funny: Eamonn and Ruth told viewers that they’d given ‘Harry and Meghan’ some more backstage chores

Hard at work: Throughout the show viewers saw the lookalikes backstage doing various chores, including making coffee

Throughout the show fans got more glimpses of ‘Harry and Meghan’ completing more jobs backstage.

The moment was clearly meant to be done in good humour, but it still didn’t sit well with many fans who claimed that they were ‘mocking’ Harry and Meghan.

One angrily posted: ‘Shame on you, I hope they have a happy life I wish them the best they should not be mocked by this morning, show how pathetic this show is getting [sic].’

Another simple described the segment as ‘pathetic,’ while another wrote: ‘It’s not even funny.’

One viewer seemed to miss the point of the segment, posting: ‘That is not Harry and Meghan. For one thing, that girl spoke with a British accent when Meghan is American.’ 

Cheeky: Eamonn then jokingly said: ‘Whether they could become commoners we will see, you [Ruth] could be royal though!’

Bizarre: The segment did not sit well with many fans. who took to social media to claim that it was ‘mocking’ the couple

Angry: Many irate viewers took to social media to share their outrage as the segment aired just two days after Harry and Meghan’s bombshell statement

Another fan also tweeted: ‘Well how silly ???? it’s never a serious show with Ruth and Eamonn though so what do you expect.’

However some fans seemed to enjoy the comedic segment, with one sharing several crying laughing emojis with the words: ‘Love it.’

Another described: ‘Meghan look-a-like was quite good, the Harry one was s***t.’ 

That was good! However some fans seemed to enjoy the comedic segment, and took to Twitter to share their reaction

Explosive: This Morning featured the segment in the wake of The Duke and Duchess’ announcement that they plan to take a step back as ‘senior members’ of The Royal Family

Drama: The show was rife with discussion about the explosive royal news, with hosts Eamonn and Ruth also offering their take

Their views: Luisa Zissman also offered her take on the ‘royal retirement’ alongside broadcaster Andrew Castle

This Morning featured the hilarious segment in the wake of The Duke and Duchess’ bombshell announcement that they plan to take a step back as ‘senior members’ of The Royal Family.

The ‘royal retirement’ was a hot topic throughout the show, as The Apprentice star Luisa Zissman and broadcaster Andrew Castle also offered their take on the drama.

Luisa admitted she had sympathy for the couple, but added: ‘I don’t need to be lectured by their wokeness flying around on private jets some hypocrisy noted, you know what it’s like to be well-known and pursued.’

‘We all know how life changes when you get a young child on board, he wants to make that change.’

Open: Luisa said she did have sympathy for the couple, saying: ‘We all know how life changes when you get a young child on board, he wants to make that change’

Truth: Luisa also said that she doesn’t think Meghan will completely give up the fame that comes with her royal platform, despite her and Harry’s intention to ‘step back’

Asked whether she thinks Meghan underestimated the fame that came with being a member of the Royal Family, Luisa said she doesn’t think the former actress will completely give up her royal platform.

She added: ‘She probably thought i know what it is like to be famous on an American show, papped at events, the type of fame and level of fame she went from and to are two completely different levels. I don’t think she’s giving up fame.’

Discussing the issue of whether Harry and Meghan should keep their publicly-funded security, Luisa said she thinks the couple should fund it themselves.

Dynamic duo: Eamonn and Ruth were once again hosts for the Friday show, as the first week of the show’s extended running time came to a close

Strong words: Discussing the issue of whether Harry and Meghan should keep their publicly-funded security, Luisa said she thinks the couple should fund it themselves

She added: ‘I think you’re either on your own two feet or not, they either go and are stripped of royal titles, that’s fine and great, we support that. See you later, we are now not paying for you. 

‘Or they are royal and doing royal duties, if they are taking our money, they can do those royal duties.’

Harry and Meghan are poised to split their time between the UK and US, which means more time away from the royal family – and their British friends, and also announced that they are taking steps to become ‘financially independent.’

Harry and Meghan will remove themselves, at least in part, from their British social circles in order to focus on putting down roots in their new home, where they will be much closer to their posse of A-list pals. 

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV. 

Stylish: Luisa cut a chic figure in a pale blue bobbled jumper and her satin pleated midi skirt as she made the TV appearance