Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are having a relaxing time in California (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared to subtly hit back at critics who blasted them for their furious statement over the weekend. The Duchess of Sussex took to her official Instagram account to post a series of new stories revealing that she is relaxing and having a jolly time with her husband and their children at their home in Montecito, California, seemingly leaving all the noise behind.

In a short clip that’s now been deleted, Meghan could be seen showing a mug with herbal tea and a book next to it. In the next clip, the Duchess was seen arranging flowers in a vase, with Prince Harry heard saying: “It’s beautiful.”

His wife then is heard chuckling, replying: “Thanks,” with the Duke adding: “It’s so pretty and pink.”

Meghan Markle’s first story was deleted (Image: Instagram/@meghan)

Meghan Markle arranging her flowers (Image: Instagram/@meghan)

Princess Lilibet makes a brief appearance (Image: Instagram/@meghan)

Meghan’s flower arrangement could be seen in the second snap, followed by a video, seemingly taken by one of their children, showing baby hands picking purple leaves from a flowering tree.

Another short clip showed the family near their chicken coup, with Princess Lilibet making a brief appearance.

It came after the couple were criticised for their furious statement over the weekend, in which they dismissed new bombshell claims in a forthcoming royal book about them.

In Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, extracts of which have been serialised by The Times Magazine, Tom Bower delves into the ongoing, strained relationship between the Houses of Sussex and Windsor.

The magazine also cites alleged internal concerns, including from former Invictus Foundation head Dominic Reid, that sport and competitors were being overshadowed and that the Games had become “the Harry and Meghan show”.

It cites poor event attendance and claims that “padding” took place for the cameras, as well as alleging that competitors and families were being overshadowed by tightly managed photo opportunities.

A pair of baby hands is seen in the third video (Image: Instagram/@meghan)

In response to The Times’ serialisation of Bower’s new book, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: “Mr Bower’s commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.

“This is someone who has publicly stated, ‘the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,’ language that speaks for itself.

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“He has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.

“Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”