The name is said to be a reference to Montecito, the upmarket enclave in California where she and Prince Harry now live.
Meghan Markle and Prince William could go head to head in the battle of the Royal jams – after the Duchess launched her first new product from her brand ‘American Riviera Orchard’.
Roughly 50 influencers and many of the Duchess’ friends were sent a jar of the brand’s strawberry jam.
But is it just as sweet as her brother-in-law’s? As Prince William has also recently stacked shelves at Waitrose with his fruity bread-spreader.
Meghan could have found inspiration from her father-in-law King Charles III who began selling products such as jam from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.
Prince William took on the Duchy estate after the Queen died, and Duchy organic strawberry jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 per jar.
Sales from the full range have helped raise £30 million for the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Argentine socialite Delfine Balquier shared photos of MEghan’s new product on their social media accounts.
The jar of jam had an antiquated paper label with gold embossed lettering reading: ‘American Riviera Orchard’, with text reading ‘Montecito’ below.
Meghan is expected to formally launch her brand later this spring after announcing it in March.
Details so far are sparse, but it is thought to focus on lifestyle – much like her previous blog The Tig.
The name is said to be a reference to Montecito, the upmarket enclave in California where she and Prince Harry now live with their two children after quitting as working royals in the UK.
This area is often described as the ‘American Riviera’.
It is separate from the couple’s Archewell brand, the umbrella name for all their philanthropic and business endeavours.
The website of that brand gives the tagline ‘Show Up, Do Good’ with the message underneath: ‘We believe in the power of community as a transformative solution for our collective wellbeing.’
‘The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show,’ a source told the Daily Mail. ‘Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.’
A trademark filing includes cookbooks, cutlery, linens, table cloths, jams, jellies and nut butters.
A second international filing is even more extensive, covering stationery, garden tools, lights, tote bags and pet collars as well as a vast other variety of homeware.
At the time Meghan shut down her last lifestyle website ‘The Tig’, she wrote: ‘After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it’s time to say goodbye to The Tig.
‘What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity.You’ve made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy.
Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being “the change you wish to see in the world”.’
‘Above all, don’t ever forget your worth – as I’ve told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough.’
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