Meghan Markle is reportedly "furious" over what she perceives as direct competition from King Charles III in the marketplace. According to insiders, the Duchess of Sussex's frustration stems from the success of King Charles' Highgrove fruit preserves, which have overshadowed her own American Riviera Orchard brand, launched earlier this year.
After stepping back from their royal duties, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have ventured into various business enterprises to carve out financial independence. One of Meghan's recent endeavors, a lifestyle brand under the name American Riviera Orchard, saw the launch of luxury jams, including strawberry and raspberry flavors. However, the brand has struggled to gain traction, facing criticism and lackluster sales since its soft launch.
The situation reportedly took a turn for the worse when King Charles introduced new products under his well-established Highgrove brand, which has been a staple in the organic food market since the early 1990s. The latest additions to the Highgrove line include organic preserves, which quickly gained popularity and sold out within minutes, much to Meghan's dismay.
"She had no idea [about this] and now suddenly, as she sees it, there's a glut of his products on the market," a source close to the Duchess revealed. "She's one step away from calling Charles about the clash, but Prince Harry is holding her back."
The insider added that Meghan is convinced that the timing of the Highgrove product launch was a "deliberate attempt to curb her success." The Duchess reportedly views this as an intentional move by the monarchy to overshadow her efforts and undermine her burgeoning brand.
Despite her frustrations, some royal experts argue that King Charles' actions are not meant to be antagonistic. Royal commentator Angela Levin suggested that the overlapping product launches were coincidental rather than a calculated move to outshine Meghan. "I don't think he would dream to do that, to take it away from her," Levin remarked on GB News, emphasizing that King Charles is unlikely to engage in such petty rivalry.
However, the optics have sparked concern within the Sussex camp. Reports indicate that Meghan had initially hoped for support from King Charles in her business ventures, not competition. "Meghan is looking for support wherever she can get it," another insider explained. "Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are at the top of her list, but she is shooting even higher and would love to get King Charles to give his stamp of approval."
As tensions rise, Prince Harry has found himself caught in the middle. He is reportedly trying to prevent his wife from confronting his father, urging her to avoid escalating the situation further. The Duke of Sussex is said to be trying to reach out to family members who might still offer some form of support or reconciliation.
The struggles of American Riviera Orchard are compounded by a series of setbacks, including negative public reception and harsh online criticism. The brand's launch was met with skepticism, with many mocking the high prices and questioning the value of the products. "Meghan was in tears when the brand launched and her new jam was widely mocked for being expensive and nothing special," royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror.
The challenges faced by the Sussexes have reportedly caused strain within their marriage, with Meghan increasingly concerned that her life is not unfolding as she had envisioned. "She loves media attention and hates the fact that surveys suggest she and Harry are no longer of much interest to the American public," Quinn added.
