Meghan Markle draws flak for debuting jam, dog treats ahead of Kate Middleton's Trooping the Colour moment
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Meghan Markle has ventured into the lifestyle market with her brand, American Riviera Orchard, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Nacho Figueras, a professional polo player and one of Prince Harry's closest friends, showcased PR gifts from the brand, including a new batch of raspberry jam and dog biscuits, on Instagram. This follows earlier gifts of strawberry jam sent to select friends, sparking intrigue and excitement around her burgeoning business.
Prince Harry's friend Nacho Figueras reveals Meghan Markle's new batch of jam and dog biscuits
Figueras is among the 50 individuals who received the exclusive products. His Instagram post displayed the jam labeled "2 of 2" and the dog biscuits in a glass jar with a handwritten label, likely in Meghan's cursive script.
These PR gifts appear to be a part of Meghan's strategy to build momentum and visibility for American Riviera Orchard ahead of a full launch.
Figueras' post coincided with the annual Trooping the Colour parade, celebrated on Saturday, June 15. The Sussexes were reportedly not invited to the event which celebrates the official birthday of the British sovereign.
Meghan and Harry's last appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the ceremony was in 2019. The couple stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and subsequently moved to their estate in Montecito, California.
While they traveled to the UK for the event in 2022, Harry and Meghan did not participate in the procession or the balcony appearance as they had in previous years.
During the Trooping the Colour parade, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis.
Meghan's lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, has been quietly gaining attention. Friends like Heather Dorak and Kelly McKee Zajfen have posted about receiving the jam, praising its quality and personal touch.
Meghan's handwritten labels and homemade appearance of the products aim to create a personal connection with recipients, promoting a lifestyle rather than just a product.
In March, the Duchess of Sussex teased her business venture with an Instagram video showing her cooking and arranging flowers.
The new brand's logo and vintage aesthetic set the tone for a refined, homegrown image. Meghan's strategy for her venture appears to focus on highlighting the brand's authenticity and connection to Montecito, where she and Prince Harry currently resides.
Meghan Markle faces backlash as she debuts new products from American Riviera Orchard amid Trooping the Colour event
The timing of the new product launch, which coincided with the Trooping the Colour event and the Princess of Wales' first public appearance amid her cancer battle, sparked a wave of online criticism and trolling.
One wrote, "I genuinely believe that MM has a mental health condition in which she has an unreasonably high sense of her own importance. She needs and seeks too much attention and wants people to admire her. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others."
Another said, "Let’s see, Princess Kate making an appearance at the Trooping or MM releasing jam that is for dipping the dog biscuits into. I think Princess Kate wins this one! So happy to see her. Praying for her complete recovery. "
"She's dragged this out too long. First, she's not Martha Stewart with original ideas who lived the lifestyle herself before turning it into a magazine and TV and endorsement business. So she had no interest in making jam, never mind actually eating it. You will sell some jam to influencers but it won't take off as a brand. She would have been better off flogging clothing, handbags, etc," remarked a person.
"Surprise surprise. We all knew she would do some stunt. She will never upstage the Royal family. Princess Catherine looked stunning. Even with her ongoing health battle. Get well soon," said someone else.
One more wrote, "I suppose every time the Royals, particularly Williams and/or Catherine, have a major event on the schedule, this Markle woman is going to try to coattail for economic gain. It reinforces the negative opinion the world has of her, so I'm sure her advisors have told her this is not sound marketing strategy. But the Sussexes have long proven they can't be advised."
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