Meghan Markle has come under scrutiny after unveiling her new lifestyle brand, As Ever, which quickly sparked controversy over its branding. The Duchess of Sussex, who recently rebranded her business from American Riviera Orchard, took to Instagram to share a vision board of her upcoming venture. However, the launch was overshadowed by allegations that the brand's logo closely resembles the coat of arms of Porreres, a small town in Majorca, Spain.
The logo, featuring a palm tree and two hummingbirds, was designed to reflect Meghan and Prince Harry's home in California. However, Porreres' mayor, Xisca Mora, has publicly condemned the design, calling it a "complete copy" of the town's emblem. "At first, we took it as a bit of a joke because we didn't really understand where it had come from," Mora said. While acknowledging that the small town does not have the financial resources to pursue a legal battle, she is calling for the logo's removal.
Adding to the controversy, Mora pointed out that As Ever intends to sell jam, a product deeply associated with Porreres, which is known for producing some of the finest preserves in Spain. Porreres has "the best jam in the world," and "the farmers will be happy" if Meghan wants to market it, Mora said.
A spokesperson for Markle has yet to publicly address the allegations, but an insider close to the duchess dismissed the claims, stating that "comprehensive global searches of registered trademarks were conducted" before launching the brand. The controversy follows a previous legal battle Markle faced when attempting to trademark American Riviera Orchard, which may have led to the recent name change.
In addition to criticism from Spain, Meghan is also facing pressure from As Ever NYC, a small independent fashion brand in the United States. Designer Mark Kolski, who founded the company in 2015, spoke out about the similarities in branding. "We are aware. We are not affiliated," he wrote in an Instagram post, thanking supporters who reached out with concerns. He added that his business, which has been producing clothing since 2017, would continue to operate despite the attention surrounding Markle's rebrand.
Meanwhile, Meghan has remained active on social media, offering fans a glimpse into her personal life. In an Instagram post, she shared a hand-drawn illustration of herself and Prince Harry, as well as a star-shaped craft with her son Archie's name written on it. The mood board also featured a preview of her upcoming raspberry spread, one of the first products set to launch under the As Ever brand.
The duchess has emphasized that the rebrand aligns with her long-standing interests in cooking, gardening, and crafting, similar to her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig. "This is what I do, and I haven't been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years, but now I can," Meghan said in a recent promotional video.
Despite the controversy, As Ever has already generated significant public interest, with many royal watchers and business analysts speculating about its potential success. The brand launch was bolstered by a partnership with Netflix, which Meghan revealed would serve as a business collaborator in addition to supporting her upcoming television projects.
While legal action from Porreres remains unlikely, the backlash surrounding the logo raises questions about Markle's branding strategy and whether further disputes could arise. Critics argue that the duchess should have anticipated potential conflicts before making the announcement, while supporters contend that the scrutiny is exaggerated due to her high-profile status.
