Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shared a glimpse into her family life on Sunday, capturing moments of joy with her children, Princess Lilibet, 3, and Prince Archie, 5.
The Instagram post featured images showcasing the family admiring roses in their garden. While the faces of the young royals were kept private, their bright red hair – a striking resemblance to their father, Prince Harry – was visible.
“Sunday kind of love….with my little loves,” Meghan captioned the series of photos. One image showed her laughing with Lilibet while snipping pink roses, followed by a sweet shot of Archie presenting his mother with a vibrant yellow flower that playfully obscured his face.
This glimpse into family life comes as Meghan continues to develop her lifestyle brand, “As Ever.” Launched earlier this month, the brand is an evolution from its initial name, “American Riviera Orchard.” The first collection featured eight items reflecting Meghan’s passion for cooking and entertaining, including a crêpe mix, shortbread cookie mix, various teas, flower sprinkles, honey, and raspberry spread. Remarkably, all of these items sold out within an hour.
During a recent podcast episode, “Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan,” the Duchess explained her decision to rebrand. She described “American Riviera Orchard” as a “word salad,” stating she wasn’t fond of the name. The shift followed a rejection from the U.S. patent and trademark office last September, which cited that using geographical locations in trademarks is prohibited. Officials noted that “American Riviera” is a common nickname for Santa Barbara and adding “Orchard” didn’t significantly alter that fact.
Branding experts have weighed in on Meghan’s explanation, suggesting it lacked clarity and authenticity. “Her reasoning has been more excuse than clear explanation,” commented Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR. “Sometimes the hard thing and the right thing are the same thing. Unfortunately, Meghan keeps choosing what she believes is the ‘easy thing.’ Thus far, it hasn’t worked.” He further criticized the situation as a result of “sloppy work by her team,” urging for greater attention to detail in future endeavors.
The trademark challenges didn’t arise in a vacuum. Food and gift retailer Harry & David filed an objection to “American Riviera Orchard” last October, arguing its similarity to their established “Royal Riviera” line. Meghan’s legal team pursued a three-month extension to secure the trademark, with earlier attempts over the summer also being rejected due to filing issues.
Hilary Fordwich, a British royals expert, emphasized the importance of caution and authenticity for Meghan’s ventures. “The trademark issues and name change derive from her lack of preparedness and expertise in this arena,” she stated. “She should be more cautious, consistent and, above all, authentic to avoid being just another celebrity-turned-entrepreneur.”
Ultimately, the episode highlights the complexities involved in building a brand and navigating legal hurdles while maintaining authenticity in the public eye.
