Meghan Markle is facing renewed calls to sack her publicity team after copping backlash for attempting to upstage Princess Catherine’s recent return to public life.

Earlier this month the Duchess of Sussex raised eyebrows after unveiling a new American Riviera Orchard product the same day as Princess Catherine’s return to public duties at Trooping the Colour.

Markle, 42, copped immediate backlash for trying to “take the spotlight away” from Kate and King Charles amid their cancer battles to promote her latest product line.

Los Angeles-based publicist Sara Fruman claimed on Monday that the Duchess of Sussex needs to be “authentic” to turn around her flagging popularity.

Meghan Markle copped immediate backlash for trying to “take the spotlight away” from Kate and King Charles. Picture: Getty.

“There are plenty of strategies she can use to get publicity, and the most impactful would be to get creative and authentic – neither of which Meghan seems to be doing,” Ms Fruman told the Express newspaper.

The comments come just months after the Sussexes hired two high profile public relations executives, who were credited with managing the former working royals’ recent trip to Nigeria.

“It appears that Meghan is either getting poor advice or she’s not listening to the advice she is given. The latter may be more likely,” Ms Fruman added.

The expert also rubbished the Sussex camp’s explanation that the timing of Meghan and Harry’s media antics is purely coincidental.

The newest offering from Meghan Markle-owned American Riviera Orchard as showcased by Nacho Figueras. Picture: Instagram.

Meghan sent out two jars of jam the same day as Trooping the Colour. Picture: Instagram.

“When you’re at the level Meghan and Harry are on, everything you do publicly is intentional,” she said.

Allegations that the Sussexes time their media antics with major royal occasions were first raised by esteemed royal author Robert Hardman in his book Charles III: The Inside story.

In the book, Mr Hardman noticed a surprising pattern while chronicling King Charles’s crucial first months on the throne.

Many of the early milestones and engagements carried out by Charles were consistently upstaged by seemingly pre-planned bombshells from the Sussexes, likely to try and destabilise the monarchy.

The Sussexes have a history of timing their ventures with major royal occasions. Picture: Sunday Alamba.

On October 27, 2022, the royal mint announced the first coins had been minted featuring the new King, but the historic occasion was soon “eclipsed” when Harry dropped a surprise teaser about his tell-all memoir Spare the exact same day.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are reportedly planning to embark on more unofficial “royal tours” after their Nigeria visit last month.

The Sussexes travelled to the west African nation last month for a whirlwind visit which allegedly infuriated King Charles, who feared the former working royals were trying to undermine the monarchy in the Commonwealth.