A short Instagram video posted by Meghan Markle showing Prince Harry sampling chocolate from her lifestyle brand has reignited a familiar debate about authenticity, branding and the Sussexes' place in celebrity culture. The clip, filmed by Markle and shared on Feb. 5, quickly drew polarized reactions, with critics calling it "contrived" and supporters viewing it as a mundane glimpse of domestic life.
In the video, Harry is seated barefoot at a desk in a home office as Markle enters holding a box of four chocolate bars from her As Ever collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés. Harry reaches in and says, "Ooh, yes please," before selecting a white chocolate bar. Markle responds, "White chocolate? You got it," and Harry adds, "Thank you, love you."
The clip's ordinariness did little to blunt online criticism. Daily Express reported that some royal watchers derided the video as "cringe" and "so fake," with one user writing, "It's SO contrived!!!!" Another suggested "things must be getting desperate" if Markle was "roping Prince Harry in" to promote her brand.
Such reactions underscore the scrutiny that follows the couple's every post, particularly when personal moments intersect with commerce. Markle has built As Ever as a lifestyle venture that blends personal storytelling with product launches, a strategy that inevitably invites judgments about motive and presentation.
The video also functioned as marketing. People Magazine reported that the chocolates are part of an expanded As Ever collaboration with Compartés, featuring four flavors. The outlet noted that a pre-Christmas collection released in December 2025 "quickly sold out," highlighting the commercial stakes behind the social-media moment.
Following the clip's release, the Express said Valentine's Day bundles and a white chocolate duo appeared to be "seemingly sold out," though sales figures were not independently verified. The response illustrates how attention-positive or negative-can translate into demand, particularly for celebrity-backed consumer goods.
For critics, the episode reinforced skepticism toward what they see as staged intimacy. For supporters, it was evidence of a couple living outside royal constraints, comfortable sharing lighthearted exchanges. The divide reflects broader fatigue with influencer-style content and a heightened sensitivity to perceived manipulation.
