The description of the Commonwealth as "Empire 2.0" in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix series is an attack on the late Queen's "life's work", according to royal sources.
The highly-anticipated first three episodes of Harry & Meghan have now dropped on the streaming platform, charting the early days of their romance and Meghan's introduction to royal life.
However, in the third episode, one commentator, the writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch says the Commonwealth is "Empire 2.0".
And academic Professor Kehinde Andrews claimed "nothing has changed" from the UK's colonial past.
The Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 nations that are mainly former British colonies, is often cited as the former monarch's proudest work.
She was head of the Commonwealth for 70 years and once described the countries within it as "stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication".
Meanwhile, both Harry and Meghan were previously president and vice president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.
In an interview at the time of her engagement to Harry, she said: "There is so much work to do in the Commonwealth."
And speaking of the criticism of the Commonwealth, one former royal adviser told The Times : "That was shocking. It goes to the root of attacking her legacy.
While another insider added: "That was unexpected. This was a full-scale attack on not just the Commonwealth but the Queen's association with the Commonwealth. It is an attack on her life's work."
It comes as Harry and Meghan reignited the war of the royals with attacks on the Palace elsewhere in the docu-series.
Many in the family believe there is “no way back” into the fold for the couple after their £100million Netflix series, Harry and Meghan.
Prince William is said to be “utterly furious” with his brother for using clips of their mother’s controversial Panorama interview.
And the Windsors face more questions on racism after Harry suggested the entire family was afflicted by “unconscious bias”.
Senior royals reacted with dismay as the first three episodes landed on Netflix at 8am UK time yesterday.
The Palace and Netflix immediately got into a briefing war, the streaming giant claiming the royals declined to comment after being approached prior to release.
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace flatly denied an approach was made, but within hours made a U-turn, suggesting they had received contact from a third-party production company which went unresolved.
