Meghan Markle is using Princess Diana’s legacy to promote her new business – timing is no accident, royal expert says
MEGHAN Markle is using Princess Diana's legacy to promote her new business, a royal expert has slammed.
The Duchess of Sussex last night unveiled her latest brand in a glitzy social media post - just moments before Prince William stepped out on stage at the Diana Legacy Awards.
In the hours leading up to the ceremony it had been revealed Prince Harry would also be playing his part in the London event - but only after his brother left.
And a royal commentator said the timing around the business launch was no accident.
Royal fans last night spotted a mysterious new Instagram account for 'American Riviera Orchard'.
The account reads that the brand is "by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex" - with visitors directed to a website where they can show their support by joining a mailing list.
Read more on royals
A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking while arranging white hydrangeas and roses was posted to the new account yesterday.
Insiders told Page Six Meghan will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
And royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said Meghan's decision to launch the new business on the day of the Princess Diana Awards was "meticulously" planned.
He said the duchess knew it would gain traction - and took advantage of it.
Richard told The Sun: "As far as the timing is concerned it's perfectly obvious why the Sussexes have done this - they always plan pretty meticulously.
"There's no doubt that they never do anything accidentally.
"They've chosen this week and they chose the day, of course, of the Diana Legacy Awards, and a day which underlined the very deep rift in the Royal Family."
The expert said the public will now be the judge of what Meghan's intentions really were.
He said: "Obviously we had this just to remind us that the Sussexes are still in the game.
"People must make up their own minds whether or not it was tasteful to launch this on the same day as the Diana Legacy Awards - obviously being a bit on its coat-tails of and coming after the problems that Kensington Palace have had."
It was a double whammy on a particularly newsworthy day, which is sensitive to some.
Richard Fitzwilliams
The expert claimed Meghan and Harry were also using the brothers' row to promote the new venture - and an award from Archwell.
Richard said: "Given the fact that yesterday was the Diana Legacy Awards and that there was a tremendous amount of media interest in the very sad fact of the royal rift between the once thought inseparable brothers.
"The Sussexes never do anything that isn't intentional. It was a double whammy on a particularly newsworthy day, which is sensitive to some."
The Sussexes made another announcement while William was still at the event - revealing the winner of their Digital Civil Rights Award.
The $100,000 award was launched in a partnership between the couple's Archewell Foundation and the NAACP.
Everything we know about Meghan's new business
MEGHAN Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the 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."
In his video chat with youngsters, Harry said: "Thank you, very much, for inspiring so many others.
"And at the same time protecting my mother’s legacy - I really appreciate that.
"And, again, well done on this fantastic group of individuals."
Richard said this too was mapped out by Harry and Meghan.
He said: "I can’t remember the last time the Sussexes made a 'double whammy' of announcements which is what we have had.
There's surely no coincidence there.
Richard Fitzwilliams
"It’s a sign of insecurity, that they choose to do that on an occasion such as this. To remind us, if we needed reminding, that they are still around."
"There's surely no coincidence there, but equally let's see what they do next."
Just hours before William and Harry were due to speak at their late mother's Legacy Award event in London, Meghan released her newest venture on Instagram.
Wills stood in front of the crowd and told them his mother taught him that "everyone has the potential to give something back".
Prince Harry also participated in the ceremony by speaking to the winners in a video call, but his brother had already left the building.
Markle sparkle: Duchess' business ventures from wellness blog The Tig to kids' book The Bench
ALONG with her well-known acting career Meghan Markle has also carved out something of a career in the business world as well.
Before getting engaged to Prince Harry, the Suits actress had her lifestyle blog The Tig but this was closed down when she got engaged in 2017.
The Tig, named after her favourite wine Tignanello, was seen as something as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow's £200million Goop, which offers similar wellness and "conscious living" content.
She previously described it as a "passion project" which "evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity".
Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have produced a podcast, Netflix documentary and memoir, as well as several high-profile interviews between them.
These are said to have made them millions of dollars.
Speaking in docuseries Harry & Meghan, the mum-of-two said of the blog: "It wasn't just a hobby, it became a really successful business.
"I've never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that's how my website was born.
"There was fashion, tons of food, and travel - all the things that I loved."
Rumours emerged in March last year that Meghan was going to relaunch the blog.
Meghan also ventured into the world of children's books with the launch of The Bench in June 2021.
Inside Meghan's 34-page book The Bench, the illustrations give a fresh glimpse into the Sussexes' "authentic" life at their LA home - featuring their then newborn daughter.
The publication was a commerical success with it becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon's chart.
Meghan dedicated her book to the "man and boy who make my heart go pump-pump" in a sweet note for her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
The mum was "inspired" to write the book after originally creating a poem for Harry's first Father's Day.
The royal couple have also been reported to be planning an Oprah-style media empire after registering a series of new entertainment businesses.
A leading royal commentator says the couple "want to earn loads more money" after they filed 11 companies in tax haven Delaware - seven of which are linked to showbiz ventures.
They appear to have names which are meaningful to the couple, with one – Cloverdale Inc – bearing the same name as the street that the Duchess lived on with her mother in Los Angeles when she was young.
Both Cloverdale and a second company, Riversoul Productions Inc, are set up explicitly in the “entertainment” industry, and join companies Hampshire LLC, Bridgemont LLC and IPHW LLC.
The couple are already using name Archewell Productions for their Netflix and Spotify deals.
Harry quizzed a group of young Diana Legacy Award winners in the "casual" video chat.
He told them: "Thank you, very much, for inspiring so many others and at the same time protecting my mother’s legacy.
"I really appreciate that. And, again, well done on this fantastic group of individuals."
William attended the event at the Science Museum in London on Thursday night in person, where he gave a speech to mark the charity's 25th anniversary.
Taking to the stage to AC/DC's song Thunderstruck, he told the audience that he and his wife, the Princess of Wales, have sought to focus on Diana's legacy through their work.
"This evening's Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award, a charity set up to reflect my mother's belief that young people can change the world," he said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"I know that she would have been honoured to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe."
He said that his mother taught him that "everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life".
Prince William's full speech at the Diana Legacy Awards
I'm delighted to be here today to recognise the transformational achievements of twenty exceptional young people from across the world.
Each and every one of their stories - which you will hear shortly - are testament to their character, passion and determination to make a lasting and meaningful difference to the lives of others.
The paths taken by these young people have not always been easy. Many have overcome adversity and prejudice, but they are driven by courage, compassion and commitment - qualities shared by my mother.
Their stories remind us of the importance of organisations like The Diana Award. I've seen on many occasions over the years how this charity empowers and mobilises young people to take action and make the changes they want to see in their communities and the world around them.
Over the next two years, The Diana Award, alongside many of their partners here today, will equip these young people with the skills to have an even bigger impact. I am excited to see what they can do together.
This evening's Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award - a charity set up to reflect my mother's belief that young people can change the world.
I know that she would have been honoured to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe.
She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back; that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life.
That legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years.
I am so proud to see this belief of my mother's manifested in the amazing young people receiving the Legacy Award tonight.
Thank you.
Prince Harry's speech to youngsters
Harry quizzed a group of young Diana Legacy Award winners in the "casual" video chat.
He told them: "Thank you, very much, for inspiring so many others and at the same time protecting my mother’s legacy.
"I really appreciate that. And, again, well done on this fantastic group of individuals."