Meghan Markle launched her new brand American Rivera Orchard in mid-March to mixed reviews from analysts, critics and the public. Much of this comes down to the failure to release a single product, but other factors could have played a part, chiefly Buckingham Palace.
Royal and showbiz expert Mark Boardman exclusively tells The Royal Observer that the Duchess of Sussex "understands the unpredictable nature of public life and media coverage," which played out as both King Charles III and Kate, Princess of Wales, revealed cancer battles around the same time.
"Meghan has always been focused on her own projects and ventures, such as the launch of the American Riviera Orchard," he adds. "While it’s possible she might feel that the timing of the illnesses overshadowed her initiative, and even feel frustrated or even angry that the royal family's attention was diverted away from their charitable efforts it’s more likely that she understands." This insight follows reports from early April that cast a different perspective on the precarious launch. "As Meghan is no longer part of the monarchy, she is free to launch her brand whenever she likes," PR expert Lynn Carratt then dished. "However, given Kate's ongoing cancer treatments, it would be wise for Meghan to be sensitive to the timing of her brand launch, considering the public support for Kate worldwide."
The analyst advises the Duchess of Sussex to "work quietly" on the brand "behind the scenes," and to wait until the Princess of Wales' treatments stabilized.
If Meghan were to go "full throttle" with her brand publicity campaign in the wake of the future queen's revelation, Her Royal Highness' fans would likely "tear the brand apart even worse than it already is," one critical palace insider revealed.
Boardman counter observes: "High-profile illnesses in the royal family naturally attract significant attention, and Meghan, having been part of the institution, would likely recognize that this is part of the larger landscape she navigates. Her focus is probably more on how to continue promoting her ventures effectively rather than dwelling on factors beyond her control."
A poll conducted by The Evening Standard in Britain in March found that Meghan scored just 7 percent in a ranking of the royals, which was right under Harry with 11 percent. Despite this, the former actress' new brand amassed over 500,000 Instagram followers in under a week then and is said to eventually tie in with a Netflix cooking show. Although unpopular in the country, one palace insider dished that the culinary show's numbers "could take off in Britain."
But not everyone is critical of the venture.
"The launch of American Riviera Orchard was a significant moment for the couple, and it would have been a significant platform for them to promote their work," Boardman concludes. "However, with the royal family's attention focused on the King's and Kate's health issues, it's likely that the momentum around their launch was indeed disrupted."
