Harry and Meghan’s ‘hidden dig’ at Beatrice and Eugenie

A source said a comment in a statement released by the pair was 'clearly' aimed at minor royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of ratcheting up the family feud by making a veiled dig at Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement on Friday announcing they would no longer be using ‘royal’ in any of their branding after leaving the country and stepping back from public life.

The published agreement into the new revised roles, which comes into effect in Spring 2020, gathered headlines around the world with particular focus on the use and jurisdiction over the word royal.

However, it was a line further up the 20-paragraph statement that caught the attention of one royal observer.

It read: ‘While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the ­institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month ­review period has been put in place.’

The source told the Mirror: ‘It’s pretty clear they are referencing minor royals such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, which is an odd association to make for two people whose associates were once claiming they had single-­handedly modernised the monarchy.’

Harry and Meghan shocked the world when they announced plans to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family and ‘transition into a new working model’ in January.

The latest statement was made on the couple’s website on Friday night, just hours after Buckingham Palace announced the pair would be abandoning attempts to work under the name ‘Sussex Royal’.

The couple had applied for a UK trademark for the term, which covered items as diverse as clothing, education and social care services.

The statement made clear they could use the term ‘royal’ in their branding if they wanted – but would refrain from doing so –  which led to a backlash in some circles.