Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Two Russian pranksters have claimed they tricked Prince Harry into telling them he was "completely separate” from most of the royal family .
The hoaxers, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, say they spoke to the prince in two phone calls while impersonating climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father.
In audio clips posted on YouTube, a voice which is apparently the prince’s can be heard.
Buckingham Palace said it would not comment on the hoax. Likewise, a spokesman for Prince Harry declined to respond to the story.
The authenticity of the phone calls has yet to be established.
Show all 55 1 /55Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. The Invictus Games is an international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. It was created by the Duke of Sussex and aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of all those who serve their country
Invictus Games Foundation/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following the announcement of their engagement
AFP/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2017 Meghan Markle shows off her engagement ring
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures December 2017 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in King's Lynn
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan during a visit to Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton. The Reprezent training programme was established in Peckham in 2008, in response to the alarming rise in knife crime, to help young people develop and socialise through radio
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers on arrival at Cardiff Castle for a day showcasing the rich culture and heritage of Wales
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2018 The couple watching a dance performance by Jukebox Collective during their to Cardiff Castle
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people in Edinburgh. The reception celebrated youth achievements, marking Scotlands Year of Young People 2018, an initiative that aims to inspire Scotland through its young people: celebrating their achievements, strengthening their voice on social issues and creating new opportunities for them to shine
AFP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in London. Under the theme 'Making a Difference Together', the event showcased the programmes run or initiated by The Royal Foundation
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2018 Prince William, Kate, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers after a visit to one of Belfast's most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon, a former Victorian gin palace, now run by the National Trust. It was the Royal couple's first joint visit to Northern Ireland
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures April 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet participants as they attend the UK team trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath
AFP via Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arriving at Cliveden House Hotel the night before her wedding to Prince Harry
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 Royal fans sing for the television in Windsor the day before the Royal wedding
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, during her wedding
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand facing each other hand-in-hand before Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during their wedding ceremony
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry kisses the Duchess of Sussex, as they pass through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2018 The newly married royals leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures June 2018 Queen Elizabeth II sitts and laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in the town of Widnes in Halton, Cheshire
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures June 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan return in a horse-drawn carriage after attending the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour' on Horseguards parade
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures July 2018 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF
Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures July 2018 Meghan and Prince Harry kiss after the Sentebale Polo event that was held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures August 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet the cast and crew of "Hamilton" backstage after the gala performance in support of Sentebale at Victoria Palace Theatre
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2018 Meghan meets 7-year-old Matilda Booth during the annual WellChild awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel in London
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet 98-year-old Daphne Dunne during a meet and greet at the Sydney Opera House during an official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala named Ruby and its koala joey named Meghan after the Duchess of Sussex during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry looks on as his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is hugged by student Luke Vincent of Buninyong Public School following the couple's arrival at Dubbo Regional Airport in Dubbo
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Harry and his wife Meghan watch aboriginal dances at Victoria Park in Dubbo
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet with lifeguards at South Melbourne Beach. BeachPatrol is a network of volunteers who are passionate about keeping Melbourne's beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact of litter on the marine environment and food chain, and provide a safe environment for the public to enjoy their local beach
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan join a circle during a "Fluro Friday" session run by OneWave, a local surfing community group who raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing, at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach
AFP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 The British royals kicked off their shoes and donned tropical garlands on Bondi Beach
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts, mats and tapa cloths at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2018 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at a service marking the centenary of WW1 armistice at Westminster Abbey
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures February 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visit the Kasbah of the Udayas near the Moroccan capital Rabat
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan speak on stage during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena in London
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Janice Charette, at Canada House, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2019 A congratulatory banner message circling the BT Tower reading "Congratulations Harry and Meghan It's a Baby Boy!"
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2019 Footmen Stephen Kelly and Sarah Thompson set up an official notice on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace on May 6, announcing the birth of a son to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2019 Pround parents pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Sussex gave birth at 5:26 on 6 May
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan walk away after posing for photographs with their newborn son
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures June 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan join the New York Yankees in their clubhouse and receive gifts for Archie ahead of their match against the Boston Red Sox at the London Stadium. The historic two-game series marked the sport's first games ever played in Europe and The Invictus Games Foundation was selected as the official charity of Mitel and MLB London Series 2019
Invictus Games Foundation/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures July 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet cast and crew, including US singer-songwriter Beyonce and her husband, US rapper Jay-Z as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dance as they arrive for a visit to the "Justice desk", an NGO in the township of Nyanga in Cape Town, as they begin their tour of the region. Their first official family visit in the coastal city
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan pose with members of "Waves For Change" NGO at Monwabisi Beach outside of Cape Town. "Waves For Change" NGO fuses surfing with child-friendly mind and body therapy to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in challenging communities
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The royals arrive to visit the oldest mosque of Cape Town in Dorp Street in Bo Kaap district
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The Duchess of Sussex visits Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day with the Duke of Sussex during their royal tour of South Africa. Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa and for the Muslim community, this mosque symbolises the freedom of former slaves to worship
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The British royal couple were on a 10-day tour of southern Africa -- their first official visit as a family since their son Archie was born
AFP via Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Duke last met with Mrs Machel during his visit to South Africa in 2015
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry attend a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at Windsor Castle
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures December 2019 Prince Harry holding his son Archie. The photo was used on Instagram to wish their followers a happy new year
SussexRoyal/PA
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2020 Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House in London after visiting to show thanks for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada
Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2020 Front page headlines, from UK daily papers, reporting on the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, plan to step back as "senior" members of the Royal Family
AFP via Getty
In the published clips, a man can be heard saying: "Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people.
"I don't mind saying this to you guys, I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out their last official royal duties earlier this week, after deciding to step down from their roles and to spend time living on Vancouver Island, Canada.
According to The Sun , Prince Harry said their decision had not been an easy one but that they had made “the right decision” to protect their son.
The paper also quoted him as saying that he was "completely separate from the majority" of his family.
Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to the Queen, told PA news agency: "As long as Harry and Meghan are over there, they're out of the protection of the system - and for all its faults, the system does, and is there, to protect.
"If they were at Buckingham Palace, it wouldn't have happened. They wouldn't have got through the switchboard. They're pretty vigilant."
Referring to other well-known figures like Elton John who have been duped by the same tricksters, Mr Arbiter added that if the voice was Harry’s then he was in “pretty good company”.
The conversations reportedly took place on New Year’s Eve and 22 January.
Agencies contributed to this report
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies