The best (and funniest) reactions to Harry and Meghan's TIME Magazine cover

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have once again shied away from the harsh glare of publicity by posing for the cover of TIME Magazine.

On the upside, however, unlike the sneering of the British press which they have complained about often and vociferously (and even legally), the tone of this latest coverage is only positive.

Listed as two of 'the 100 most influential people of 2021,' the accompanying prose could put anyone in a life-threatening sugar coma.

It opens with a brief anecdote about Harry serving in Afghanistan, and hearing a distant explosion.

"In one swift motion, he stands up, rips off his microphone and runs toward the action," reports the writer, breathlessly.

We hear that the same sense of urgency drives ex-Suits actor Meghan, and how humanitarian work 'feeds her soul'. They give 'voice to the voiceless' and 'take risks... to help communities in need.'

In a final gush of helpless adoration, the write-up concludes: "In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know, the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don’t know. They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle."

This went down well with US royalists, who are not generally known for their edgy scepticism.

For British readers (and some American ones), however, it proved a jug of syrup too far, with several questioning the depth of the 'struggle' faced by two very rich royals who live in a gated mansion in California's most exclusive neighbourhood.

Twitter exploded with mockery over the 'outrageous' Photoshopping, which some said made the couple look like glowing waxworks, and many guffawed at the pomposity of it all.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan ‘humbled’ as they’re named among world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine

Some even suggested there may have been some hypocrisy involved in the Duke and Duchess appearing on magazine covers when it suits their purposes and crying foul when it doesn't.

But while they remain divisive, plenty of others had only love for the couple – and for every joke there was a sincere post in support of Harry and Meghan.

Here's a round-up of the reactions on Twitter.

This tweet spoke for many who felt the airbrush had been used with a heavy touch: "They look CGI."

Others questioned the 'weird' body language, commenting that Harry looked as if he'd been dropped into the picture via Photoshop.

Body language was a concern for many, in fact, as were the relative heights of the couple.

Some saved their mockery for Harry's newly lush hairline, possibly aided slightly by retouching.

One Twitter user merely noted how well-co-ordinated the couple appear to be on their various shoots and engagements, putting together a quick mood-board to showcase their styling.

The best tweet, however, was one that struck a chord with thousands. "This looks like Harry is a hairdresser and he's looking into the mirror explaining what he did to her layers" was painfully accurate, many felt.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan ‘enjoy low-key celebration’ for his birthday

But not everyone was willing to mock. Many rode to Harry and Meghan's defence, citing their genuine humanitarian work and love for one another.

"Amazing cover!" Wrote one fan. "Love all the good work they are doing despite the vicious attacks coming at them by The Firm. Keep up the good work, #HarryandMeghan! Your humanitarian work speaks for itself."

Watch: The Duke of Sussex has been named as one of the most influential people of 2021