Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand launch has hit another setback after requesting a three-month delay on her trademark application, royal biographer Angela Levin has claimed.
American Riviera Orchard, initially announced in March, has encountered continued obstacles in securing its trademark.
Speaking to GB News, Levin revealed that the brand “keeps getting pushed back” due to trademark restrictions, leaving Meghan “very angry” as she’s unable to proceed with sales.
“She’s now asked for another three months on the trademark application deadline,” Levin told GB News, noting that if the issue isn’t resolved within this extension period, the entire process may need to restart.
Meghan Markle has requested to extend the trademark deadline
Getty
The royal biographer suggested a simple solution would be to change the brand name, which is currently causing complications due to its similarity to another trademark in the Montecito area.
According to Levin, if Meghan fails to resolve the trademark issues within the new extension period, there could be significant consequences.
“They’ve said to her they will give her three months, but after this they will have to start all over again, which may mean another year,” Levin explained to GB News.
The delay stems from a protest lodged with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Harry & David, owners of the ‘Royal Riviera’ trademark.
Meghan was making jam for her brand, known currently as American Riviera Orchard
Instagram / Heather Dorak
The USPTO issued a “non-final officer action” regarding the application, requiring a response within the extended timeframe.
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“All she had to do was to change the name. They don’t want the name because it’s too familiar to a name where she lives in Montecito,” Levin said.
The royal expert added that Meghan is “sticking to it and making life very, very complicated.”
The brand has so far only been promoted through limited releases, with select celebrities receiving baskets of homemade jams in April.
Kris Jenner, Chrissy Teigen and Abigail Spencer were among the lucky high profile celebrities to receive exclusive homemade jams from the brand.
Angela Levin said Meghan is ‘making things more complicated’ for her brand
GB News
However, no products have yet been made available for public purchase through the brand’s website.
Noting the couple’s “professional separation”, Levin questioned whether Prince Harry would return home to the UK to see the Royal Family while Meghan continues in her lifestyle endeavours.
Levin told GB News: “Why doesn’t he go home? He hasn’t been home for over two months. It must have been virtually three months now.
And if you actually are together and you want an emotional relationship, then surely you would pop back because they were salt and pepper for a long time, and they didn’t let each other go. And they’re holding hands and looking starry eyed in each other’s eyes. But if you say you’re doing professional distance that’s a very serious thing.”