Meghan Markle 'never cared about royal protocol', commentator claims as pal faces backlash over ill-timed post

However, just hours before the event began, a friend of the Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to promote Meghan's latest product.

Nacho Figueras, an Argentinian polo player close to Harry and Meghan, took to his social media on Saturday morning with images of raspberry jam and dog biscuits, which will soon be available from Meghan's lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Sun: "Megan and Harry know perfectly well every single thing they do is monitored by the press.

He also claimed the couple "never cared" about royal protocol, and "you don't have a diary clash" when it comes to official statements and such things.

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However, he added: "Meghan would not have been advised to do this by any of her public relations consultants. This is something of a joke."

However, PR expert Lynn Carratt defended the duchess, telling The Mirror: "She [Meghan] didn’t have any control over when Nacho would post them. And it didn’t overshadow anything."

Meghan'snew jam flavour comes in a jar bearing a label that reads: "2 of 2."

Meanwhile, the dog biscuits were packaged in a large glass jar, also boasting a handwritten label thought to be in Meghan's handwriting. The treats, photographed next to Figueras's dog Nina Iggy, are a new addition to American Riviera Orchard's line-up of products.

Trooping the Colour marked the first official public sighting of Princess Kate, who has been privately battling cancer since earlier this year.

Last Friday, Kensington Palace confirmed that Kate, 42, would attend Trooping the Colour at the weekend.

In a statement, the Princess of Wales said: "I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.

"Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

"Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me."