Prince Harry, Meghan Markle 'targeted' by Russian bots to ignite UK divide: Expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are being targeted by Russian bots amid Putin's efforts to cause divide in the UK, claim experts.

The discussion comes after Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for “standing by Ukraine's brave citizens at this crucial time”.

“Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia's invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. Good will triumph," said the Zelensky while also speaking on behalf of his wife.

Upon the gesture, Richard Eden, The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor, commented: “This was something extraordinary, here we have President [Volodymyr] Zelensky fighting to survive, his life is under threat and he was able to send a message to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, thanking them for their support for the people of Ukraine.

“He starts then being abused by some of the more strident social media followers of Harry and Meghan, saying 'Why haven’t you thanked them?'

During their NAACP Awards acceptance speech, younger brother Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle also talked about the war-torn region.

Harry said: “Before I begin, we would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine who urgently need our support as a global community.

“I think it’s safe to say I come from a very different background to my incredible wife, yet our lives were brought together for a reason.

“We share a commitment to a life of service, a responsibility to confront injustice and a belief that the most overlooked are often the most important to listen to.”

Mr Eden’s fellow panellist, author and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop, believed these accounts seemingly aim to divide the UK in to two groups.

Dr Dunlop added that these accounts Russian bots, defaming the Sussexes name.

She said: “We have to question, to what extent are those trolls and naysayers actually bots – controlled, incidentally, possibly by Russia."