The Duchess of Sussex has been hit with a blow after her soon-to-launch lifestyle brand suffered a trademark misstep.
Meghan Markle is seeking to trademark the name of her service, “American Riviera Orchard,” for international use ahead of its full launch next year.
However, MailOnline reported that in July, around four months after the registration application, records showed there were several “irregularities” that needed to be “corrected”.
Lawyers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly received notices from the US Patent and Trademark Office about a range of issues, including the misclassification of yoga blankets, picnic baskets and recipe books.
Meghan Markle will launch her own brand, American Riviera Orchard, in March 2024. Getty
The department said fees payable to various organisations around the world for registering the trademark totalled $11,382 (around £9,000). GB News has contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
Few details about the company have been released yet, but it has been revealed that it will focus on home, gardening and general lifestyle content, including its strawberry jam, jars of which will be sent to 50 influencers to sample and promote the product to their followers online.
A celebrity PR expert said the brand's minimalist social media strategy could alienate potential customers and leave the business owner “struggling to gain traction.”
Kayleigh Cornelius, speaking for Betfred, said: “Meghan Markle runs faster than she walks when it comes to her new brand, American Riviera Orchard. With a range of projects and products underway, it's clear that she is trying to sell a particular lifestyle, but she and her team are unable to speak directly to their audience, making their communications strategy almost incomprehensible.”
Latest Royal News
American Riviera Orchard Jam was shared by Tracy Robbins on his Instagram Story. Instagram/mrstracyrobbins
A source told US entertainment website Page Six that the brand will focus on “what's close to her heart” and be an extension of her previous lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Meghan has sent products like jams and dog biscuits to friends, and her next product will reportedly be rosé wine. A source with knowledge of the launch said the plan is to promote Meghan as a “beacon of inspiration, ambition and possibility.”
The launch of Meghan's lifestyle brand is a long-term plan that has been in the works for at least 18 months, a prospect that appears to have excited Netflix, which signed a deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020.
Their first documentary, Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022, was an international success.
Photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2023 Invictus Games (Getty Images)
But the Duchess is facing difficulties finding a partner to launch her own brand, and royal author Tom Quinn claims the failure of American Riviera Orchard could be a sign that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's plans are in “serious trouble”.
“Harry has never had any realistic thoughts about being an entrepreneur or businessman himself,” Quinn told the Mirror.
He continued: “He's been trained since birth to do one thing and one thing only – to be royalty – and he's thrown that away.”
“His 100% support for his wife and her business ventures has never wavered, but it wasn't enough to make her company a success. Meghan is proof that self-confidence doesn't always guarantee success. It doesn't necessarily make you a great entrepreneur or businesswoman.”
