Meghan Markle has suffered an embarrassing blow after the Duchess of Sussex “rushed” a key decision, according to a royal commentator.
The Duchess of Sussex announced her new lifestyle venture, American Riviera Orchard (ARO), in March earlier this year, launching a new website and accompanying Instagram page.
However, Meghan, 43, has not yet listed any items for sale, despite announcing the lifestyle brand seven months ago.
Trademark applications reveal that Meghan plans to sell pet food, yoga mats, stationery, candles, and more through ARO.
Meghan Markle suffers embarrassing blow after duchess ‘rushed’ key decisionGettyRichard Eden, a royal commentator, has claimed that he may have been the reason why Meghan “rushed” to announce her upcoming lifestyle brand so quickly.
Writing in The Mail, he said: “I contacted Meghan’s office in March to inform them that I planned to run an item about her plans to launch a lifestyle company called American Riviera Orchard.
“Meghan was apparently so desperate for the news not to appear first in the Daily Mail that she immediately launched the Instagram page for her company, complete with a glitzy video.
“Eight months later, the company has still not started selling any goods and interest seems to be waning.
Meghan launched an Instagram page for American Riviera Orchard earlier this yearInstagram“A textbook example of how not to launch a business.”
GB News has contacted the Duchess of Sussex for comment.
Shortly after Meghan announced she would be selling lifestyle products, she began sending homemade jars of jam to 50 of her closest friends.
Several of these high-profile celebrities, such as Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen, took to their social media pages to praise the product.
Kris Jenner posted this photo on her Instagram story thanking the Duchess of Sussex for her jar of jamInstagramLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Meghan released a glitzy video to accompany her luxury lifestyle brand
Instagram/ American Riviera Orchard
The Duchess of Sussex pursued trademarks for exclusive rights to sell cosmetic products, home décor, stationery, linens, small kitchen appliances, condiments, yoga equipment, gardening gear and pet accessories plus more tableware and jarred food products under the American Riviera Orchard name.
Trademark applications filed on March 9 with the US Patent and Trademark Office reveal that ARO has plans to sell goods in nearly every lifestyle lane.
Beyond fragrance and lavender sachets, the trademark application lists “Non-medicated skin care preparations; Bath and shower gels and salts not for medical purposes; Non-medicated hair preparations; Bath soap; Bar soap; Non-medicated hand soaps: Body creams: Bath oil: Body lotions; Cosmetics; Body oil; Scented oils; Air fragrance reed diffusers; Fragrances; Room fragrances; Incense.”