Meghan teased new products from her lifestyle brand as Kate returned a royal event
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties four years ago and now keep busy with various projects from their home in California.
However, a royal expert has claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥 are becoming “increasingly irrelevant” and will never outshine the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Sign up for the Royals newsletter
Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
7The Duke and Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥 are becoming ‘becoming less and less relevant’, claims former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie BondCredit: Reuters7The royal expert claims the ‘Royal Family will command the attention every time’Credit: princeandprincessofwales/Instagram
Meghan recently announced the launch of her latest pet project – dog treats – hours before Kate’s brave return to public duty, with some calling it “ill-timed”.
Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!: “I can’t honestly imagine that they are sitting there scheming to make announcements on the same day as a royal event.
“Surely they are bigger than that?
“It’s true that there have been some rather strange coincidences in the past about the timing of some of their announcements.
“But I think they are becoming less and less relevant to the news over here, and the Royal Family will command the attention every time.”
Over the years there has been a number of announcement clashes, such as Meghan’s announcing her luxury lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard just before Prince William spoke at an awards ceremony in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
The move was slammed by royal experts as yet another attempt to steal the limelight, with one branding it “calculated” and another claiming it would have “saddened Diana”.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams criticised the timing, saying there was “nothing accidental” about it.
He said: “The announcement of the new brand is totally consistent with the timing of all the Sus𝑠e𝑥es’ announcements.”
Ahead of the publication of Prince Harry’s controversial memoir Spare, he sat down for long interviews with ITV’s Tom Bradby and Anderson Cooper, for US channel CBS, in January last year -the day before the Princess of Wales’ 41st birthday.
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry ‘DON’T feel ending rift with Kate & William is their responsibility,’ royal insider says
In a series of shocking accusations against his family, he claimed royals sought to protect their own reputation “to the detriment” of the Sus𝑠e𝑥es and that they were “complicit” in their “pain and suffering”.
As the interviews made global headlines, the official Royal Family’s social media channels posted a simple birthday wish for Kate, writing: “Wishing the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday.”
But the timing didn’t escape the attention of royal fans, with one tweeting: “I can’t believe Harry is doing this to Kate on the eve of her birthday…”
Meghan announced she is launching American Riviera Orchard in March, and teased it on Instagram with a promotional video, however products are not yet available to the public.
7Meghan teased another product from her new lifestyle brand – dog treats – just before Trooping the ColourCredit: Instagram/nachofigueras7Trooping the Colour on June 15 saw Princess Kate make a triumphant return following her cancer treatmentCredit: Getty
So far, Meghan has sent jams and dog treats to close friends and family.
According to a report from Page Six, Meghan’s company will focus on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle content.
The brand will reportedly sell home goods, such as cookbooks, food and kitchenware.
A trademark application for ‘American Riviera Orchard’ showed Meghan could sell cutlery, decanters, legume-based spreads and even napkin rings.
This follows Meghan, 42, closing her former lifestyle page, The Tig, in April 2017, shortly after she started dating Prince Harry.
7Prince William paid tribute to the winners of the Legacy Awards in MarchCredit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala7Meghan’s brand logo appeared online shortly before Wills’ speechCredit: Instgram/americanrivieraorchard7Prince Harry gave the bombshell interview on the eve of Kate’s birthday