‘No accident’: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle steal Prince William’s thunder at Diana memorial

Meghan Markle has made a major announcement that threatens to further derail Prince William’s plans.

The timing of Meghan Markle’s new luxury lifestyle brand launch has raised eyebrows among royal watchers, with the former actress accused of intentionally launching the venture at the same time as an awards night dedicated to Princess Diana.

Prince William spoke at the event last night in London, with Prince Harry also scheduled to appear - albeit seperately, via video link.

But just moments before the Prince of Wales emerged, and amid the furore surrounding Kate Middleton’s disappearance from the spotlight, Meghan unveiled her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

Prince William, Prince of Wales at The Diana Legacy Awards at the Science Museum in London on Thursday. Photo by Arthur Edwards / POOL / AFP.

While William was scheduled to leave before Harry’s message aired, the couple ended up revealing their $100,000 NAACP – Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award while the Prince of Wales was still at the event.

An insider told Page Six Style that the new venture will focus on home, garden, food and general lifestyle wares.

Speaking about the move, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam told MailOnline that the Duke and Duchess don’t do “anything by accident”.

“The Sussexes in my opinion do nothing by accident and timing is often absolutely pivotal.

“We found that out one way over the weekend and we’ve now just been reminded that there may be more shots in their locker than some of us thought. And it’s no accident.

“For years they’ve been unpredictable but they have been predictable in one sense, and that is the unerring timing when they believe it’s beneficial to get information out. They don’t do anything by accident.”

Meghan took the chance to launch a new brand as William took to the stage. Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP.

Meanwhile, wild theories surrounding photographs of Kate Middleton leaving Windsor Castle with Prince William earlier this week have been debunked by the photographer who captured the images.

The Princess of Wales has been missing from the public eye for more than two months after undergoing surgery, and is now at the forefront of a royal photo scandal.

Fans were relieved on Monday when she was pictured riding in the back seat of a vehicle alongside the Prince of Wales, only the second sighting of the Princess of Wales since Christmas Day.

Amateur internet sleuths attempted to dissect the image after Kate’s Mother’s Day photo was pulled from major photo agencies due to “manipulation” concerns.

Jim Bennett, the photographer who captured the image of Kate leaving the castle, was positioned on Datchet High Street to get an “early photo of Prince William heading to Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day Service.”

“We don’t change our photos in Photoshop other than adjusting the light levels if necessary,” Mr Bennett told Fox News.

Originally published as ‘No accident’: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle steal Prince William’s thunder at Diana memorial