White House aides 'call Ivanka Trump Princess Royal behind her back'

Ms Trump's role at the White House has led to accusations that the President is engaging in nepotism

US President Donald Trump speaks about small businesses while daughter and adviser to the President, Ivanka Trump, listens (Getty Images)

White House aides reportedly have a nickname for Ivanka Trump: “Princess Royal”.

Since her father became president in January, Ms Trump has taken on an adviser role in the White House, participating in roundtable discussions and meeting with world leaders. She has limited experience working in politics.

According to Vanity Fair, West Wing advisers refer to Ms Trump as “princess royal” behind her back.

Earlier this summer, Ms Trump sparked outcry when she briefly took her father’s seat at the G20 summit when he had to step out of the room. While the President was away from the table, his daughter sat between President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain.

“Excuse me,” a former adviser to the President reportedly said at the time. “This is not a royal family, and she’s not the princess royal.”

Several Trump critics again questioned the role Mr Trump’s family members should play in his administration.

“This is strange,” tweeted Michael McFaul, the United States ambassador to Russia under former President Barack Obama. “Very strange.”

Mr Trump defended his decision to have Ms Trump sit in for him, saying the arrangement was “very standard” and then German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed.

Ms Merkel said at a news conference that it was up to individual nations to decide who represented them, Bloomberg reported.

“The delegations themselves decide, should the president not be present for a meeting, who will then take over and sit in the chair,” Ms Merkel said.

“Ivanka Trump was part and parcel of the American delegation, so that is something that other delegations also do. It’s very well known that she works at the White House and is also engaged in certain initiatives.