Meghan Markle has launched a luxury lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard with a glitzy Instagram video. The Duchess of Sussex’s new project is said to have been in the works for more than a year – and will feature ‘all the things that are close to her heart’.
The flash company is set to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show featuring Meghan on Netflix – where she will be making and selling her own products. It will lead onto a book and blog to go alongside her cookery displays. It is ununderstood that a trademark application has been made covering cutlery – knives forks spoons – cookbooks and electronic cookbooks, coffee, jams jellies and butters.
It also extends to a physical shop from which tableware, mugs, jams, tablecloths and recipe books could be sold. In the new video, Meghan is seen whisking in a stunning rustic kitchen, while a woman’s hands are seen arranging pink and white flowers.
The announcement comes on the same night as Prince Harry and Prince William are set to make a rare joint appearance at the Diana Legacy Award event at the Science Museum in London – but neither will be in the room at the same time, even virtually.
And it follows a trying week for the Royals – after Princess Kate was forced to admit to editing a photo of her and her children that she released on Mother’s Day after the world’s top picture and news agencies – including PA – ‘killed’ the image over claims it had been digitally manipulated. An insider told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
‘The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix. Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. ‘And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.’ The brand will focus on home, garden, food and general lifestyle wares.
The plush video comes alongside a series of nine cryptic Instagram posts, making up the logo of the brand alongside the name: ‘American Riviera Orchard Montecito’. Comments have been disabled on the Instagram posts and the page links to a new website of the same name where people can enter their email address and ‘join the waitlist’.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam told MailOnline: ‘The Sussexes in my opinion do nothing by accident and timing is often absolutely pivotal. We found that out one way over the weekend and we’ve now just been reminded that there may be more shots in their locker than some of us thought. And it’s no accident. ‘For years they’ve been unpredictable but they have been predictable in one sense, and that is the unerring timing when they believe it’s beneficial to get information out. They don’t do anything by accident.’
The announcement comes just hours before William is expected to give a speech in person to mark the Diana Legacy Award’s 25th anniversary and present awards to 20 recipients tonight. The Prince of Wales will appear at the awards event alone as his wife Kate is still recovering from abdominal surgery. Harry, who lives in California, will then join a video call with the winners, according to reports. However, his involvement will only take place after his brother has left the ceremony.