Meghan Markle may have hidden a subtle dig at the Royal Family in her speech praising the heroes of the Invictus Games, some critics are convinced.
During the opening ceremony at the Hague the Duchess of Sussex took to the stage to rapturous applause.
She began her remarks by thanking those present, her husband Prince Harry and in particular the team from Ukraine.
Meghan then issued what some have claimed is a veiled swipe at the Firm by telling Invictus competitors: "This is service."
Meghan told the ex-military heroes at the games set up by Harry: “Thank you so much for your service and thank you to all the family and friends that are here who have been supporting you along the way.
"Because this is service, this is dedication and this is the Invictus family.”
While some may read the remarks as clear and unequivocal praise for veterans who have risked their lives in the arena of war, others have another interpretation.
Ingrid Steward, royal commentator and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, called it “an interesting choice of words”.
She told The Sun: “It’s evocative language and perhaps is slightly barbed. There’s definitely a little innuendo there.”
When Meghan and Harry stepped back from royal life, the Queen said the pair would not "continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service".
In a short response, Harry and Meghan said at the time: "We can all live a life of service. Service is universal."
Some people, primarily on Twitter, took Meghan's comments yesterday as a carefully calculated nod to her previous statement.
Others suggested she was simply singing the praises of those who had been injured serving their countries.
"Harry and Meghan are the gold standard when they give back to global communities," one person wrote online.
"They gave back to the service men & women a place they can thrive in through sport & meeting new friends along the way from over 20 teams globally."
Another simply asked: "So they can’t use the word service?"
Earlier Harry and Meghan had been cheered as they made their way into the arena and waved at fans as they took their seats in the front row.
Harry looked smart in a grey suit with an open collar shirt while Meghan paired dark trousers with a £620 white off the shoulder body suit by Khaite and a £12,800 Cartier necklace.
When Harry arrived on the stage he kissed his wife and talked about how it was great to be back, telling the crowd how he had missed them.
He then spoke sweetly about young son Archie, who is almost three, and revealed how they chat about what the toddler wants to be when he grows up - and it includes a daredevil cartoon cat who dresses like a pirate.
Harry said: "To be role models, or the role models, that each of you are takes strength and it takes courage.
“When I talk to my son Archie about what he wants to be when he grows up, some days it’s an astronaut, other days it’s a pilot – a helicopter pilot obviously. Or Kwazii from Octonauts. If you’re laughing then you’ve seen that.
“But what I remind him is that no matter what you want to be when you grow up, it’s your character that matters most, and nothing would make his mum and me prouder than to see him have the character of what we see before us today.”
Harry said those involved with Invictus have “overcome immense challenges”, adding: “And together you are healing and teaching the world as you go.”
