We extend Kostant's results about $\mathfrak{g}$-invariants in the Clifford algebra $Cl(\mathfrak{g})$ of a complex semisimple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ to the relative case of $\mathfrak{k}$-invariants in the Clifford algebra $Cl(\mathfrak{p})$, where $(\mathfrak{g},\mathfrak{k})$ is a classical symmetric pair and $\mathfrak{p}$ is the $(-1)$-eigenspace of the corresponding involution. In this setup we prove the Cartan theorem for Clifford algebras, a relative transgression theorem, the Harish--Chandra isomorphism for $Cl(\mathfrak{p})$, and a relative version of Kostant's Clifford algebra conjecture.