Meghan Markle has been accused of mocking the Queen and her traditions of glove wearing and tea drinking in her 40th birthday video.
A royal expert questioned the video, featuring Melissa McCarthy alongside the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, which Meghan released to mark her 40th birthday yesterday.
The video announces Meghan's new 40x40 project - which the Duchess hopes will get women back into the workplace with support from other women.
The start of the clip sees Melissa being asked by Meghan to help out with her birthday idea.
Melissa humorously suggests Meghan could get tattoos or hold a yacht party ahead of the project's unveiling.
In the video, Prince Harry can be seen juggling in the background.
For the clip, the two ladies can be seen drinking from traditional tea cups with Melissa sporting a hat and gloves.
Royal expert and commentator Angela Levin asked on Twitter: "Anyone else think that Meghan and her friend Melissa McCarthy were mocking the Queen in the birthday video?"
She continued: "Both holding old fashioned cup and saucer like Meg used in her blog after 1st meeting with Queen. Melissa sipping from the cup wearing fancy hat and gloves?
"The mockery shows what she thinks of the Royal Family. She's got what she wanted and is confident she can outsmart us all.
"We just have to wait for Harry's outpouring in his memoir."
Royal biographer Robert Jobson agreed in part and wrote: "Maybe. Certainly poking fun at the Brits … with an outdated caricature. Par for the course."
Someone else said: "Not just the Queen but the British culture IMO. Selling it and mocking it at the same time."
And another person added: "It was supposed to be funny - not mocking Her Majesty. Just my opinion."
Prior to the video release, the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had sent Meghan birthday wishes on reaching 40.
The Queen shared pictures of Meghan on her official Royal Instagram account and wrote: "Wishing the Duchess of Sussex a very happy birthday today!"
One picture showed The Queen and Meghan in Chester in a Royal visit in 2018 and another showed Harry and Meghan with little Archie in South Africa.
Prince William and Kate Middleton also wrote: "Wishing a happy 40th birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!" alongside a photo from Meghan's royal tour of Australia.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also sent public messages online via their Clarence House accounts.
Sharing a photo of Meghan from an event in Windsor in 2019, they wrote: "Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday."
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