As the nation turned its eyes to the pomp and pageantry of Trooping the Colour, celebrating King Charles III’s official birthday with a grand military parade, another event quietly unfolded in the digital realm. Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, unveiled two new tantalizing products: raspberry-flavored jam and dog biscuits.
The timing was impeccable—or controversial, depending on whom you ask. Just hours before Kate Middleton made her much-anticipated royal comeback at Trooping the Colour, a close friend of Markle’s revealed these latest additions to her burgeoning brand.
Polo player Nacho Figueras, known for his association with the Sussexes, shared a series of intriguing photos on his social media account. The images featured a jar of raspberry jam and a box of dog biscuits, both bearing the label of Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
The timing of this post raised eyebrows as it coincided with Princess Kate’s appearance at the Trooping the Colour parade. The internet was abuzz with speculation: Was this a calculated move by the Duchess of Sussex to steal the limelight from her royal counterpart?
Despite the claims of overshadowing, an expert has since clarified that Markle’s business move, seemingly coincidental, bore no malice. “While I am sure the gift packages came with notes requesting social media coverage, you can’t tell Nacho Figueras what to do, so I think it’s certain the timing of his post was his own idea. The larger point here is that the American Riviera Orchard campaign has been phenomenally successful and cost Meghan nothing. It is a textbook social media campaign. The only problem is that there still seems to be nothing actually for sale, so what is it all for? I guess we will find out.”
This narrative is not new to followers of royal affairs. The Duchess of Sussex has often been pitted against the Princess of Wales in media narratives that thrive on rivalry. Yet, this latest development suggests a more nuanced reality where personal milestones and professional endeavors coexist, even if they occasionally overlap in the public eye.
As American Riviera Orchard continues to expand its offerings, from edible delights to lifestyle products, Meghan Markle cements her role as an entrepreneur with a keen sense for timing—whether by design or coincidence.