Meghan Markle to ‘re-enter influencer scene’ as American Riviera Orchard hits huge milestone

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Meghan Markle first launched her new business American Riviera Orchard with a glossy Instagram account on March 14 earlier this month

Meghan Markle is gearing up to “re-enter the influencer scene” following the launch of her new business, according to publicity experts.

The former working royal kicked off her glossy brand on March 14 earlier this month, the day her husband Prince Harry virtually appeared at the Diana Legacy Award ceremony, snubbing an in-person visit and missing an awkward run-in with Prince William.

Uploading a high-production promotional video to her new American Riviera Orchard Instagram account’s Story feed, Meghan has left the page sitting stagnant for two weeks. But now it’s hit a major milestone, industry insiders tell the Mirror she’s ready to get going, and that the account’s activity could rival her previous success with The Tig.

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READ MORE: Meghan Markle’s business gains first famous follower as Instagram grants her blue tick

Her official @americanrivieraorchard page is not only verified by Meta with a celebrity-style blue tick, but Meghan’s account now boasts more than half a million followers. Still only a fraction of the followers on Harry and Meghan’s old @sussexroyal feed, she can still use the large audience to promote her new range of products and campaigns.

New York-based PR expert Courtney Haywood-Ford tells the Mirror, “It’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Her verified account and sizable following suggest that there’s potential for her to re-enter the influencer scene. Plus let’s be clear Meghan Markle always had a sense of fashion and style before she married Harry.”

The principal at Courtney Haywood Agency Partners added: “Meghan recently voiced concerns about the downsides of social media, so her return might raise eyebrows. However, people can change their views over time, so perhaps her comeback signifies a shift in approach,” they said, teasing what Meghan might get up to on her Instagram.

“Fans might anticipate genuine, relatable posts that resonate with them, much like her previous work with The Tig. Keeping things transparent, authentic, and focused on meaningful connections could help maintain a positive public image,” Courtney said.

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On top of hitting the huge follower count, Meghan’s business also gained its first A-list celebrity fan recently. It was thought Meghan had been invited to take part in a recent series of hit reality TV show, The Kardashians. Now that is seeming to be even more likely as her latest venture has caught the attention of family momager Kris Jenner.

The famous matriarch is thought to be the first celebrity to follow Meghan’s account, adding to the near-600,000 follow count. The Duchess’ page is thought to be a reimagining of her lifestyle blog The Tig that she shut down in 2017 as she prepared to marry Prince Harry. Appearing in a promotional video, Meghan arranges white roses, bakes in her kitchen and tends to her dog with the backdrop of her Montecito mansion.

The company’s Instagram account bio reads simply: “by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex⁣⁣⁣”. The page’s description also states the business was “established” in 2024, with a link to its website, americanriviera.com. The website invites people to sign up for a waiting list, with little to no details explained when clicking through.

After someone signs up, they receive the message, “Yes, I would love you to be the first to know about products, availability, and updates from American Riviera Orchard.” The name appears to be a reference to Santa Barbara, the town in California where Meghan lives with her husband Prince Harry, and their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

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