Meghan Markle's American Riviera Orchard brand is facing another setback, as Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan reports. The Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle venture, which aims to bring a taste of her Californian roots to luxury gifting, has hit a stumbling block with a patent issue involving a conflict with the lifestyle brand Harry and David. Speaking to GBN America, Callahan remarked, "She's also just taken yet another hit with American Riviera Orchard. There's a lifestyle brand called Harry and David that has just filed a patent issue with the US Patent Office."
Callahan added, "They are claiming that her company is a little too close to a product of theirs that is named something like similar but she's all she's got yet another issue getting this thing off the ground. How long has it been that she's been trying to lift this thing up? I mean, it's not even going to air on Netflix, her cooking show, until sometime next spring."
Despite this, Meghan is determined to push forward, using the holiday season as a strategic opportunity to reconnect with old acquaintances. According to Closer magazine, Meghan has been curating exclusive gift packages featuring her favorite items, including her signature jams, for Hollywood's elite. "While there is no doubt it's about promoting her American Riviera Orchard brand, it's also about spreading goodwill and trying to remind people of her softer side," an insider told the magazine. "With Christmas around the corner, Meghan sees it as the perfect time to try to rebuild connections."
The Duchess reportedly distributed 50 jars of strawberry jam earlier this year to some of Hollywood's biggest names. As a source explained, "She's sending them out to all her friends and acquaintances, and is willing to spend a fortune and a whole lot of time because she sees it as an investment in her relationships."
While Meghan attempts to bolster her business endeavors, Prince Harry has been embarking on solo trips across New York, London, and South Africa. Adding to her challenges, Meghan faced a rejection from trading officials in September when her application to trademark American Riviera Orchard was declined on the basis that it refers to Montecito, her hometown. According to a source, "She's reaching out to people who aren't necessarily so fond of her, like Kate, Queen Camilla, the Clooneys, and the Beckhams. She's very eager to set the tone of peace for next year as one of peace and forgiveness."
British PR expert Nick Ede, who has known Meghan since her early days with Prince Harry, has criticized her branding strategy, particularly with American Riviera Orchard. In media comments, he said, "From a brand point of view, as an expert in that, I think whoever has been helping her has done it really wrong, especially with Riviera Orchard." Ede noted that Meghan's initial efforts to generate anticipation, such as creating an Instagram presence and sending product samples to celebrities, were promising but ultimately fell short. "Then suddenly Meghan halts, and you have no through line, there's no story, and you can't get it back," he said.
Ede added, "There's no, 'Oh my god, I can buy jam, or I can get a t-shirt, or I can go on the site and register my name.' There's literally nothing." He pointed out that without tangible engagement opportunities, Meghan's brand has struggled to resonate with its intended audience.
Meanwhile, Meghan's foray into the lifestyle space has drawn skepticism from industry veterans. Reports in the Irish Star claim that culinary icon Martha Stewart has been frustrated by comparisons to Meghan's venture. An insider told Intouch, "Martha's tired of being quizzed by people over how she feels about Meghan's venture because, honestly, it's irritating and insulting to her that she's being compared to a rookie!"
Reports have also emerged suggesting that Meghan and Harry are considering separate professional pursuits, with American Riviera Orchard being a key focus for Meghan as she attempts to navigate the competitive lifestyle market.
