While The Palace Is In Shambles, Meghan Markle Launched Her Instagram
In the thick of her father-in-law (the King of England) being in hospital and her sister-in-law (the Princess of Wales) wrapped up in a hilarious photoshop scandal and slightly concerning MIA situation, Meghan Markle decided to do what all good celebrities should: Launch a lifestyle brand.
It’s something that’s been on the cards for Meghan ever since the palace made her shut down her beloved blog, The Tig. So what’s more of an F U to her in-laws than launching a fancypants lifestyle brand while the royals are being this messy.
But for the OG fans, it’s important to flag now that this is not a relaunch of The Tig. I know, I’m disappointed too. Instead, this is a new brand called American Riviera Orchard. I know, I’m disappointed by that name too.
There isn’t much to know about American Riviera Orchard yet, but here’s everything I could gather. The business is registered On the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website, and the name American Riviera Orchard is trademarked for “jellies, jams; marmalades” as well as several other homey items like cookbooks and tablecloths. It’s giving Maggie Beer.
The Instagram page for the brand at the moment just has one of those rather annoying 9-slide grids of the logo – which looks like a regal gold leaf signet ring stamp. It also labels its location as Montecito, which is where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lived since leaving the UK.
The bio for the IG page is also an odd one, because all it says is: by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. I would have thought that she would want to distance herself from that title, but I’ve never been a duchess, so don’t know if that’s just a flex that feels really good.
She’s shared one Instagram Story which is a video of Meghan arranging some flowers before slipping into the kitchen, mixing up some bits that I assume will transform into a jam and/or jelly, before the scene flips to a shot of a woman in a ballgown down a hallway with the door kind of wafting. It’s all very… blurry. But I like the music choice – Nancy Sinatra’s “I Wish You Love”.
There is no launch date for the brand, but there is a website that has nothing but an email sign-up page. And you can bet that I whacked my address in there so fast because I am nothing if not nosey.
No email confirmation has been received, but I did get a cute ‘thank you’ for signing up, so cheers for that Megs.
Here’s hoping that Kate, wherever she may be, gets a PR package from American Riviera Orchard so she can enjoy Meghan’s marmalade.
Image credit: Getty + Punkee