Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, launched her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, back in March, sparking initial curiosity with only a few details about her new venture. Her announcement was made through a video filmed at the Montecito mansion she shares with Prince Harry, showcased the duchess bustling in her kitchen and strolling the expansive grounds of their estate.
The Duchess planned to expand her brand into a variety of products including kitchen and homeware, alongside a gourmet line featuring oils, nut butters, jams, and preserves, plus items like home fragrances and furnishings. On March 14, the Duchess herself took to Instagram to unveil her project.
As revealed by a trademark application, the reboot of The Tig planned to offer everything from tableware and decanters to kitchen linens, not to mention a tasty lineup of jellies, jams, marmalades, and spreads, alongside cookbooks. Mindy Kaling, Kris Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Chrissy Teigen were all hopping on the latest trend, with Teigen even sharing a Reel to her Instagram.
“Our Strawberry Preserve is made using only the finest berries and is delicious served in a variety of ways. Some of our favourite ways are shown here,” the post read. However, “American Riviera Orchard,” has since faced challenges.
One of the brand’s products, a strawberry jam, became a bit of a talking point, but not necessarily for the right reasons. The reception was lukewarm with some finding it underwhelming. This added to the difficulties she’s encountered with the brand, including struggles to hire a CEO and other key personnel, reportedly due to her high standards.
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Royal author Tom Quinn noted that Meghan was “dismayed” after her products, particularly her new jam, were “widely mocked” in the media and public forums according to GB News. Quinn said that the lackluster reception and the criticism over her products left Markle quite unsettled. Despite the glamorous reveal, further details about when American Riviera Orchard would go to market have remained notably absent, leaving people waiting for the next move.
“The one fly in the ointment is Meghan’s new internet brand, America Riviera Orchard,” Quinn said. “Meghan’s new jam was widely mocked for being expensive and nothing special. She has reached the point now where she thinks that anything and everything she does will be unfairly criticized.”
“Like her husband, she feels that people are unfairly picking on her – she cannot understand why people don’t admire her work. She is especially sensitive about any criticism of her luxurious lifestyle in the US – from her point of view this is something to be admired not criticized.”
A source described to Closer that the recent staffing scandal dealt a “humiliating and demoralising” blow to Harry and Meghan. According to the insider, “The timing of this turn of events is absolutely terrible. Right as they set off on an exciting tour of Columbia the news of Kettler throwing in the towel is plastered everywhere and they’re once again being branded as horrible bosses who nobody seems to want to work for.”
“Of course they’ve tried to do damage control but, behind closed doors, it’s utterly humiliating and demoralising.”
