A photo used by Netflix to show Harry and Meghan being hounded by the press was actually taken at a Harry Potter premiere years before the pair met.
A trailer for the couple’s upcoming documentary showed rows of photographers clamouring for the best snap, reports The Sun.
But they were really pointing their cameras at the all-star cast of the final film in JK Rowling’s wizarding franchise at an event in July 2011.
The image — which includes a picture of The Sun photographer Doug Seeburg — is used in the Netflix trailer before Prince Harry says in a voice-over: “I had to do everything I could to protect my family.”
But the couple did not meet until some five years later, in 2016.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun: “I don’t imagine Harry would have realised, but Netflix have been careless here as it weakens Harry’s comment about protecting his family. This fake picture weakens his point.”
The photo is the first search result under “paparazzi” on leading stock image website Alamy.
It was taken at the London premiere for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two, in Trafalgar Square, London.
Rowling and the film’s stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were on the red carpet.
Sun photographer Doug can be seen in the shot used by Harry and Meghan’s team.
He said: “I remember going to the premiere. It was a huge event. Crowds and crowds of fans had turned out in the rain and camped overnight to see the actors. There were no members of the Royal Family there.
“In the Netflix trailer it’s implied the photographers, including me, were trying to get a shot of the royal couple — but that’s nonsense.”
“For a picture from that premiere to turn up in this trailer about Harry and Meghan seems like lazy picture research.”
Netflix refused to comment about the picture’s use. It comes as Royal Family insiders believe the Palace is becoming weary of the constant attacks from the Sussexes, and do not know of any further revelations to come.
The Palace is understood to have no plans to “engage” with any claims made in the docuseries which has been branded as a “global event” by Netflix.
The six-part series will reportedly make viewers “come away with empathy” for the LA-based couple.
It is set for release this week in what Netflix has described as “global event”.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.