Russian prank callers tricked Prince Harry into sharing his thoughts on President Trump.
YouTube pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarvov fooled the Duke of Sussex into thinking he was speaking with climate activist Greta Thunberg, 17, and her father, Svante Thunberg, in two phone calls that took place on Dec. 31, 2019, and Jan. 22, 2020, according to the Daily Mail.
“The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands,” he told them. “Trump will want to meet you to make him look better, but he won’t want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.”
The royal and his wife Meghan Markle have shown support for climate change charities and causes in the past. They urged climate activists to donate to Surfers Against Sewage, a charity that “inspires, unites, and empowers communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife,” in lieu of sending wedding gifts during their 2018 nuptials.
Additionally, Prince Harry told famed primate expert Jane Goodall over the summer that he would have “two children, maximum” over his concerns for the planet. He also launched a sustainable travel initiative in September, weeks after being criticized by the British media for using four private jets in 11 days while his brother Prince William continued to take commercial fights with his family.
Markle has also taken issue with the president, calling him “divisive” and “misogynistic” before she joined the royal family. The Duchess of Sussex did not participate in Trump’s June 2019 state visit to the United Kingdom, citing maternity leave. Ahead of the visit, the president gave an interview in which he called her “nasty.”
The couple announced their plans to step back from their roles as senior royals and to relocate to North America in January. Sources close to Markle said her “soul was being crushed” by her life as a royal. While they will retain their “Her Royal Highness” and “His Royal Highness” titles, they will not be permitted actively use the titles. The changes will take effect on March 31.
Prince Harry told the pranksters that his decision to leave “certainly wasn’t the easy one, but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.”
The couple and their young son currently live in Canada, but Markle, a former American actress, is reportedly searching for a manager to represent her in Hollywood.
