Prince Harry, 33, told the audience of the flagship programme: "The family loved having her there. We had an amazing time staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running around with the kids."

He added of Meghan, who is the first fiancee to be invited to the traditional bash, adapting to family traditions: “She’s done an absolutely amazing job, she’s getting in there and it’s the family that I suppose she’s never had.”

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Credits: GettyBut his comments upset Meghan's estranged sister Samantha, who said the former Suits actress actually grew up being surrounded by a huge family – and also accused her of being "too busy".

Samantha, who is Meghan's half-sister from her father Thomas Markle's first marriage, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday evening: "Actually she has a large family who were always there with her and for her.

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Credits: Alexi Lubomirski/ Kensington Palace"Our household was very normal and when dad and Doria divorced, we all made it so it was like she had two houses."

The 52-year-old went on: "No one was estranged, she was just too busy. Read my book complete with facts and photos."

Actually she has a large family who were always there with her and for her. Our household was very normal and when dad and Doria divorced, we all made it so it was like she had two houses. No one was estranged ,she was just too busy. Read my book complete with facts and photos

— Samantha Markle (@SamanthaMGrant) December 27, 2017

Meghan's parents Doria and Thomas divorced when she was six-years-old.

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Credits: PASamantha followed it up with another tweet saying her marriage to Harry will just be extending her family.

"Meg's family (our family) is complete with sister, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the glue of our family, our amazing completely."

Meg's family(our family) is complete with sister, brother,aunts, uncles, cousins, and the glue of our family, our amazing completely self-sacrificing father. She always had this family,..Marrying merely extends it.

— Samantha Markle (@SamanthaMGrant) December 27, 2017

Samantha, who caused controversy when she revealed she was planning on publishing a tell-all book about Meghan, also replied to a Twitter user who said Prince Harry's comment was "tactless".

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Credits: Splash News"She has a large family. She always did. Our dad is amazing and completely self sacrificing. We made it so that she had two houses. How fun it was!"

Earlier on in the show the prince also joked with former US President Barack Obama about about whether he had been invited to his wedding next May, when asked if he was on the guest list.

Harry said: "I don't know about that, we haven't even put the invite or the guest list together, who knows if he's going to be invited or not, I wouldn't want to ruin that surprise."

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited

The former Suits actress was the star attraction at the Christmas Day gathering with hundreds of fans giving her the royal seal of approval.

Meghan joined the rest of the royal family when she was greeted by adoring crowds as she attended church at Sandringham.

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Credits: PA