Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised for using their message of support to the Princess of Wales following her shock cancer announcement on Friday night to “push their agenda” by adding a “secondary narrative”.

Princess Kate broke the nation’s hearts yesterday evening as she bravely announced she has been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, following her abdominal surgery in January, and is now undergoing preventive chemotherapy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a brief statement three hours after Kate’s shock announcement and said: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”

But now a PR expert has analysed their well wishes and said that, while the Sussex couple did good in “swiftly showing support”, they also chose to introduce a secondary narrative which could result in them being seen as “pushing their agenda”.

Renae Smith, founder of PR and brand development agency The Atticism, exclusively told Express.co.uk: “The rapidity of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s statement in response to Princess Kate’s cancer announcement is a good public relations move.

Prince Harry and Meghan criticised for ‘adding secondary narrative’ to wishes to Princess Kate (Image: Getty)