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Meghan Markle launched her new luxury lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard o the fourth anniversary of what Prince Harry dubbed their ‘freedom’ day – the date they moved to California.
A glitzy Instagram video released yesterday showed Meghan in a large, bright kitchen, providing fans with a glimpse into her plans to sell cookbooks, jams and tableware under her new umbrella company Mama Knows Best.
Sources close to the royal told the Mail the launch coincided with the Duchesses’ plans to have a cooking show on Netflix which is said to be starting within ‘a few weeks’.
And on the same night the couple announced Archewell’s winner of a $100,000 civil rights award in the US.
The timing of the announcements had already raised some eyebrows from royal and PR experts who suggested the couple had planned the brand’s launch for the same time William was speaking at an event dedicated to Princess Diana’s life’s work.
Yet the date appears to be even more significant as it marks the fourth anniversary of when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew with Archie, then 10 months old, and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, to America.
Footage revealed in Harry’s bombshell Netflix series showed the Prince joyfully celebrating his emigration after Megxit was confirmed.
The clip taken as the world entered a pandemic saw Harry on board the luxury plane, putting his fingers his lips and smiling as he said: ‘We are on the freedom flight. We are leaving Canada and we are headed to Los Angeles. Shh!’
On the day they left from Vancouver Island to Canada on March 14 2020, Prince Harry celebrated their emigration calling it there ‘freedom flight’
The couple’s launch of Meghan’s new business American Rivera Orchard was released yesterday on the four year anniversary of them moving to California
He later turns the camera around filming Meghan, the baby and his mother-in-law, as well as their two dogs, saying: ‘Grandma’s here, Pula’s here with a ball in her mouth.’
The Duchess beaming into the camera while wearing a black beanie adds: ‘Archie, say hi, we are about to go where Mommy’s from.’
The family had been given actor Tyler Perry’s private jet to take them from Vancouver Island to Los Angeles, where they have been living since quitting their role as senior royals.
Mr Perry, who is also Archie’s godfather, also offered the couple the use of his home in California before they bought $14.7million dollar mansion in Montecito.
The Duke later paid thanks to Mr Perry in his docuseries Harry & Meghan. He said: ‘This is the current situation thanks to another amazing friend who we’ve never met but who believes in us and wants to help.’
The couple’s latest business venture was announced in the late afternoon not only coinciding with their emigration anniversary but also Diana’s Legacy Award that was taking place at the Science Museum in London.
Prince William was there in person giving awards to the winners and paying tribute to his late mothers work – which he described as an inspiration to himself and his wife, the Princess of Wales.
But Harry and Meghan’s new venture was launched just before William arrived at the event, leading royal experts to once again question the timing of the launch.
Meghan’s regal looking logo and branding
The Diana Awards had been touted as a rare joint appearance by estranged brothers William and Harry, albeit 5,000 miles apart from each other and at different times of the evening
Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks to Tom Walker, Ken Spellman and Dr Tessy Oho CBE as he attends The Diana Legacy Awards last night
Royal biographer and commentator Phil Dampier said today: ‘Nothing happens by accident with Harry and Meghan.
‘Harry probably felt he wasn’t getting the exposure he deserved as William was actually at the event and he wasn’t.
‘As for American Riviera Orchard I’ve always thought Meghan would end up doing some sort of Gwyneth Paltrow style lifestyle range and this has clearly been planned for many months.
‘If it means she concentrates on making money and not on attacking the royal family I’m all for it’.
Later on in the evening, Harry also spoke at the event virtually from his home in Montecito. He told winners that he was ‘sorry he could not be there’ in person.
Last nights business reveal came after the bosses of Netflix revealed that Britons ‘devour’ any content released by the Sussexes’ and that the couple had a ‘bunch’ of new projects lined up.
An insider told the Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden: ‘Meghan is starting to film her Netflix show in a few weeks’ time. It will tie in with the American Riviera Orchard brand.’
While another added: ‘It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard. The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
Royal expert Phil Dampier said: ‘It’s hard to believe that Harry and Meghan would have used their titles for commercial gain so blatantly if Queen Elizabeth was still alive’
The Duchess of Sussex’s coat of arms appears on the newly launched Sussex.com website
Harry and Meghan’s decision to relaunch their ‘Sussex.com’ website last month has been seen as part of a wider ‘relaunch’ by the California-based royals
‘Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.’
The new brand is set to be an extension of her former lifestyle blog The Tig, an insider told America’s Page Six, adding: ‘She’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all the things that are close to her heart.’
Royal experts claimed the California-based royal’s latest venture is just another attempt to ‘cash in’ on Meghan’s royal status and could be a breach of the agreement they struck with the late Queen, experts said today.
Publicity materials make no attempts to hide Meghan’s royal links or her brand’s nakedly commercial nature, with its Instagram profile including the caption ‘by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex’.
Meghan’s biographer Tom Bower said the initiative flies in the face of the Sussexes’ vow to the former Queen not to trade off their royal connections following the so-called ‘Sandringham Summit’ in 2022.
He told MailOnline: ‘Meghan and Harry promised they would not use their titles as commercial vehicles and they have broken that understanding. The only solution is for the King to strip the Sussexes of their titles. Hopefully he will find the resilience.’
Archewell has been contacted for comment.
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