Prince Harry’s eco-friendly credentials have been questioned after his wife Meghan Markle posted a video of him surfing in an artificial wave pool.
A video shared on Instagram shows the Duke of Sussex catching a wave, wearing a backwards baseball cap, all set to a soundtrack that praises him as ‘a mighty good man.’
Meghan also added a fox emoji to the clip, referring to a nickname she has for her husband, accompanied by Salt-N-Pepa’s 1993 hit Whatta Man.
The Duchess of Sussex captioned the video on Friday: ‘We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this important message.’
In the scene, Prince Harry is seen crouched down as a blue wave forms around him. He subsequently raises his hands, clapping in jubilation as he successfully stands on the wave.
However, surfing enthusiasts have expressed doubts about Harry’s commitment to environmental protection, noting that he traveled miles from their Montecito, California, coastal residence to an artificial wave facility.
‘Eco-Warrior Harry, residing on the Californian shoreline, commutes inland to a wave pool that consumes large quantities of energy,’ one observer pointed out.
Another remarked, ‘That’s not true surfing; it’s just riding a man-made wave machine,’ while a second added: ‘It’s a surfing setup situated far from the real beach.’
Meghan Markle has shared a new video of Prince Harry surfing on Instagram – alongside a soundtrack celebrating him as ‘what a mighty mighty good man’
Harry can be seen clapping and raising his hands in celebration as he manages to stand up
Online social media users have since mocked the Duke after his wife Meghan Markle posted the video of him surfing on the artificial waves
‘It’s in Central California. He’s nowhere near a beach!’
A third sarcastically said: ‘Wow surfing a three foot artificial wave. Awesome dude!’
Renowned surfing icon Kelly Slater once constructed a complete Surf Ranch featuring artificial waves—and utilizing 15 million gallons of water—in Lemoore, California, which opened in 2015.
The 11-time world champion surfer was said to be teaming up with private real estate and development firm Meriwether Companies and Big Sky Wave Developments, to bring the largest rideable open-barrel human-made wave in the world to life.
The project – Coral Mountain – is yet to be completed, with delays to the project amid concerns from local residents regarding light pollution, traffic, water use, and noise, The Desert Sun reported.
In 2020, the 53-year-old previously announced plans to build the world’s largest man-made wave in the desert – a 18 million-gallon pool – in La Quinta, California.
Elsewhere on X, social media users poked fun at the Prince, saying the ‘man made’ waves were ‘nothing short of an amusement ride’.
‘Oh my god, it’s not like he’s actually surfing, those are man made waves,’ an onlooker penned on X alongside a laughing emoji.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured attending the Time 100 Summit at the Lincoln Center in Midtown, New York on April 23, 2025
Meghan (pictured in With Love, Meghan) was accused by an expert of ‘diluting’ her brand’s positioning by ‘reposting mid-tier influencers
‘You can think you’re surfing, but until you get out there in the real ocean and eat some sand or get have the threat of the board hitting you in the head when the wave doesn’t go the way you think it should, forget it,’ a social media user added.
‘You’re in the kiddie pool.’
‘Surfing is fine,’ another chimed in. ‘That’s a big thing in California. But it’s presented as ‘an important message’ which it is not.’
‘Let us know if Harry can ever put on his big boy britches and make it into the ocean,’ one quipped.
‘Harry looks to be just a beginner since he can’t stand and balance well.. and apparently can’t surf in the ocean.
‘It might be newsworthy if he were at Big Sur and actually surfing in the ocean catching some big waves!’
The Daily Mail has approached Harry and Meghan’s representatives for comment.
It comes after Montecito-based Meghan was accused by an expert of ‘diluting’ her brand’s positioning by ‘reposting mid-tier influencers’.
The Duchess launched As Ever earlier this year and has been busy promoting the lifestyle brand ever since.
UK-based brand and PR expert, Chad Teixeira, today revealed how the social media posts might work against the mother of two, and deter customers from purchasing her products
Meghan with her husband during the Invictus Games earlier this year
Among her techniques is reposting micro-influencers enjoying the products on Instagram.
However, a UK-based brand and PR expert, Chad Teixeira, today revealed how the social media posts might work against the mother of two, and deter customers from purchasing her products.
Talking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Teixeira explained: ‘Meghan’s As Ever brand has all the right ingredients for success with its strong name, a compelling backstory, and a product that sits in a lifestyle space where she can naturally lead.
‘However, the current strategy feels a little reactive and lacking in originality, and we’d expect more from her.
‘Leaning too heavily on reposting mid-tier influencers risks diluting the brand’s positioning, as it comes across more like filler content than a considered rollout.
‘There’s also the risk that it comes across as not being accessible for her customer base, as they only see it being used by high-profile figures.’
Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a new ‘multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects’ with Netflix – a downgrade on their previous contract.
The couple’s new output will include a second season of the Duchess’s With Love, Meghan lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December.
The new arrangement is a first-look deal, meaning Netflix can say yes or no to new film or TV projects before anyone else.
The Sussexes are also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the ‘shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger’.
Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan, bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan, as well as being a business partner on Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
There is also ‘active development’ on other projects with Netflix which ‘span a variety of content genres’, including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake.
It has also been reported that the couple are lining up a documentary about Princess Diana as part of the new deal, to mark 30 years since her death in a car crash in 1997.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are lining up a documentary about Princess Diana as part of their new ‘first look deal’ with Netflix, it has been reported
Princess Diana is seen visiting New York in December 1995. She was killed in a car crash two years later
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said: ‘Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.
‘The response to their work speaks for itself – Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series.
‘More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As ever line consistently selling out in record time.
‘We’re excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.’
A spokesperson for the Sussexes told the Daily Mail they would not be commenting on claims surrounding a new documentary about Princess Diana.
