TORONTO -- Social media lit up with mixed reactions after Prince Harry reportedly shared his opinions on a wide range of topics, including his exit from the Royal Family, during a phone call with two Russian pranksters impersonating Greta Thunberg and her father.
According to the Britain鈥檚 , the Duke of Sussex was duped into taking calls from well-known jokers Vladimir 鈥淰ovan鈥� Krasnov and Alexei 鈥淟exus鈥� Stolyarov on two occasions, New Year鈥檚 Eve and Jan. 22.
In the calls, Prince Harry spoke about his and his wife Meghan鈥檚 decision to step back from the Royal Family in January.
鈥淚 can assure you, marrying a prince or princess is not all it鈥檚 made out to be,鈥� he reportedly told the pranksters. 鈥淏ut sometimes the right decision isn鈥檛 always the easy one. And this decision certainly wasn鈥檛 the easy one, but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.鈥�
The 35-year-old prince also supposedly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his stance on climate change.
鈥淭he mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands,鈥� he was quoted as saying.
The duke allegedly went on to say that if Trump met with the famous 17-year-old climate change activist, whom he believed he was speaking to, she would 鈥渙utsmart鈥� the president.
On Monday, the pranksters published a recording of one of the two hoax calls on YouTube and Facebook with an accompanying cartoon depicting the royal. Krasnov and Stolyarov have also prank-called other public figures, including Elton John and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.
Krasnov and Stolyarov were reportedly able to call Prince Harry while he was staying at the luxury mansion on Vancouver Island where he and his family have been vacationing since December.
麻豆影视 has not verified the authenticity of the phone calls. However, in an email to CTVNews.ca, Krasnov said that everything quoted in the Sun newspaper was true.
鈥淲e've been calling stars and politicians on behalf of Greta Thunberg since October. Surprisingly, you can talk to many famous people on her behalf. They quickly agree to talk to a well-known activist. And gradually we publish these audios,鈥� he wrote.
Krasnov went on to say that 鈥渃atching鈥� someone from the Royal Family was 鈥渧ery interesting.鈥� He also said he didn鈥檛 have Prince Harry鈥檚 phone number, but they were able to reach him through his 鈥渆ntourage.鈥�
In an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Household of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Buckingham Palace said they were not commenting on the matter.
Online reaction to news of the prank calls was swift with some commentators ridiculing Prince Harry for allegedly falling victim to the prank while others defended him for what he supposedly said in the conversations.
鈥淪uch beautiful conviction from Prince Harry, even though Greta Thunberg is fake, if he really said those words, I am proud of him,鈥� on Wednesday.
鈥淚 think Prince Harry comes across from this conversation as a very nice thoughtful guy,鈥� .
鈥淓ven when pranked, Harry comes across as a fundamentally good chap, and to be candid, a safe pair of hards [sic]. He didn鈥檛 actually say much out of place,鈥� .
Others, however, were less impressed.
鈥淧rince Harry is a weak individual who does not prefer to think but rather be led by the nose,鈥� on Twitter.
Another user took issue with the duke鈥檚 supposed criticisms of Trump.
鈥淯hhh Prince Harry has no business lecturing us on Our President not his. What gives him that right? If this is their game plan it鈥檚 not going to work,鈥� .
Headlines about the prank calls came just days after Prince Harry and Meghan completed their final public engagement as working members of the Royal Family when they attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly already returned to Vancouver Island to be with the couple鈥檚 10-month-old son following the completion of their official royal duties.
