Royal watchers went into a meltdown when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were expecting Baby Sussex last October.

The royal couple had just touched down in Australia late last year when the news broke, with the newlyweds’ first child due in the UK spring.

Since then, the world has kept a keen eye on the former Suits star’s growing baby bump — but now, a bizarre conspiracy theory about the pregnancy has emerged.

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A growing number of keyboard warriors are convinced the former Ms Markle is faking her entire pregnancy — and according to trolls, they’ve got the photographs to prove it.

Those who subscribe to the outlandish theory use a number of common hashtags, including #megxit, #moonbump and #charlatanduchess, while posting “evidence” of their claims online.

The Moonbump hashtag refers to the Moonbump product, a fake pregnant belly made in the UK.

According to the website, Moonbumps are “used extensively for stage and screen performance, advertising and retail and, in many cases, for strengthening emotional bonds as you move forward with a planned surrogacy or adoption”.

The strongest believers in the royal conspiracy are convinced the 37-year-old has bought her own Moonbump, either with or without the knowledge of her husband and other royals.

Well, I have 2 college degrees and 1 master degree. I also speak 3 languages. I’m definitely “educated” and I still think everything about Meghan is fake, including her pregnancy. #FakeDuchess #MEGXIT #magicbabybump #DuchessOfDeceipt — Bella Wolf (@BellaWolf_3) January 19, 2019

While the reasons for the supposed cover-up vary from person to person, the idea behind them all is the same — that Meghan is lying to the world about a non-existent pregnancy, using a pillow or Moonbump to hoodwink us all.

One of the more popular ideas behind the so-called conspiracy is that it is an elaborate ploy to distract Brits from the Brexit debacle, with many social media users accusing the Windsors of “treason”.

Others claim the real Sussex baby is being carried by a secret surrogate, pointing to the “pregnancy contract” Meghan allegedly had with first husband Trevor Engelson.

According to sources, the actor was concerned about gaining weight during pregnancy and snapping back to her pre-baby body after birth, and therefore demanded Mr Engelson pay for a personal trainer and nutritionist if the couple did have a child together.

You are so right, like any real mum, but Meghan's not carrying a baby. Besides she has previously stated she did not want to gain weight that's why she had her ex-husband sign a contract about the weight gain issue. So no she's not carrying a baby. The surrogate is.#megxit — dpbrown1953 (@dpbrown1953) January 24, 2019

Those who support the conspiracy have used a number of photos as “proof” — including pictures that supposedly show the “fake bump” sitting unnaturally and slipping.

Others point out that pregnant women are not able to squat and bend over to the same degree that the Duchess has been pictured doing, while others argue she hasn’t been spotted visiting any royal doctors or obstetricians.

And other Twitter users claim she’s still dying her hair and getting Botox treatments, which means she can’t possibly be carrying a child.

All the newspapers are making ever so subtle digs... Come on be brave!! She's dying her hair, still having fillers and BOTOX because she's got a #surrogate #moonbump and this #fakepregnancy puts Beyonce and Amal to shame! Tell the truth!!! pic.twitter.com/QVLyAo3u9e — Taz81 (@superscuba83) January 23, 2019

In one of the even stranger arguments, one theorist claimed Meghan was a “honeytrap operative” brought in to create a “divide in the UK”.

But of course, it’s far from the first conspiracy theory regarding a celebrity to run wild on social media.

In 2017, rumours of a “fake Melania” Trump began circulating after a number of photos and videos of the US First Lady looking slightly different to her usual self emerged.

Since then, the claim Ms Trump was using a body double to stand in for her in public has reignited again and again, fuelled by her penchant for sunglasses, clothing and accessories that often cover part of her face.

The theory was strengthened after her mysterious disappearance following a kidney operation last May.

This new Melania double is weak sauce. #wheresmelania pic.twitter.com/yAsbR7CuQJ — Johnny Killoran (@metroville) July 10, 2018

And in 2016, there were claims Hillary Clinton had been replaced by a body double and even a hologram after she collapsed at a 9/11 memorial service in New York after a battle with pneumonia.

Prince Harry and his wife are expected to welcome their baby in April.

They are apparently creating a “gender neutral” nursery in their new home, Frogmore Cottage, using “vegan paint”.

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