Prince William appeared to take a swipe at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a powerful speech he delivered at a historic royal event last year, according to some observers.

William, who is next in line for the throne, was the sole member of the Royal Family to address the audience at King Charles’s Coronation Concert, which took place on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In his speech, delivered a day after Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey, William acknowledged his father’s long-standing service and dedication to others.

“Pa, we are all so proud of you,” expressed William, who attended the concert alongside his wife Kate Middleton, and their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

“As my Grandmother said when she was crowned, coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future. And I know she’s up there, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother”, reports the Mirror.

He went on to say: “For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message. Service. My father’s first words on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a pledge of service. It was a pledge to continue to serve.”

Several people took to Twitter following William’s speech – with many interpreting it as a clear jab at Harry and Meghan.

One viewer commented: “Service Harry. Do you hear that? Not a free ride.”

“SERVICE. Something Harry doesn’t understand,” chimed in another.

When the Sussexes made the bombshell decision to step back from royal duties, Buckingham Palace issued a statement regarding their departure.

The Palace’s statement declared: “Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.”

However, Harry and Meghan were quick to respond with a statement of their own, asserting: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”

A year on from the Coronation events, the rift between Prince Harry and the Royal family appears to have deepened.

Prince Harry, who attended the Coronation service but was absent from other festivities, is set to return to London shortly to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

He is scheduled to be present at a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday, May 8, where he is expected to give a reading.

Whether he will meet with his father during this visit is uncertain. Their last encounter was brief, lasting only 45 minutes when Harry hurriedly returned to the UK following the announcement of the King’s cancer diagnosis in February, spending just one day in Britain.

Sources close to the situation have dismissed the possibility of a reunion between Prince William and his younger brother, Prince Harry. As friendly insiders confided to The Daily Beast: “Both sides understand each other’s position clearly now. William and Catherine felt completely betrayed by Harry’s memoir. They don’t speak to Harry and Meghan, and they are certainly not about to start when Catherine is at her most vulnerable.”