Meghan Markle’s New Lifestyle Brand Sparks Controversy and Comparisons to Martha Stewart
Meghan’s new venture
Since stepping down from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family and relocating to the United States, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been living life on their terms. Recently, Meghan Markle launched a new luxury lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which has quickly garnered attention and a substantial following on Instagram. The brand is set to offer a range of products including home goods, cookware, pet products, gardening tools, beverages, food, and condiments, though it has not yet begun selling.
Potential issues with the Royal Family
Meghan’s use of her title, Duchess of Sussex, to promote the brand could raise concerns, as Royal Family members are typically prohibited from engaging in commercial ventures or endorsing products. The Instagram bio for American Riviera Orchard reads “by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex,” which could be seen as leveraging her Royal title for commercial gain, a move that may have been problematic had she not stepped back from Royal duties.
Privacy expert Trevor Cooke highlighted the potential risks: “Members of the Royal Family must tread carefully on social media, balancing their personal interests with their responsibilities to the monarchy. Any misstep could have significant repercussions for their reputation and the institution they represent.”
Comparisons to Martha Stewart
The launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand has also sparked comparisons to Martha Stewart, a pioneer in the lifestyle and home goods industry. According to insiders, Stewart is less than pleased with the comparisons, reportedly seeing them as unfounded and insulting. A source told In Touch magazine that Stewart, who has seen many newcomers enter the industry with similar hype, is not convinced that Meghan’s venture will succeed.
“Martha has seen hundreds of Meghan types come and go – and says they all come in with the same self-inflated hype, only to find out it’s a whole new ball game when it comes down to brass tacks,” the source said.
The insider added that Stewart is prepared to defend her position in the market if Meghan’s brand proves to be serious competition: “If Meghan thinks she can come along and replicate that with barely any experience simply because she’s married to a prince, she better think again.”
Stewart, known for her success in building an empire from the ground up, reportedly finds the comparisons to Meghan, who is relatively new to the lifestyle space, irritating. The source hinted that if competition arises, Stewart won’t hesitate to respond.
What’s next for Meghan?
As American Riviera Orchard prepares to launch its products, all eyes will be on Meghan Markle to see how she navigates the challenges of building a lifestyle brand while balancing her Royal ties. Whether the venture will succeed or face hurdles remains to be seen, but it has certainly stirred conversations and expectations within the industry.
