THEY may have both married into the royal family, but Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s friendship has become “poisonous”, according to a royal expert.
And from specific outfit choices to the name of her new lifestyle brand, the Duchess of Sussex could have been sending some secret signals to the Princess of Wales.
Royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror: “Meghan doesn’t feel guilty about Kate, because she feels that Kate should’ve been the one person in the royal family to back her against every difficulty.
“Apart from anything else, Meghan knew Kate was an outsider, so she just couldn’t understand why Kate always towed the royal line rather than supporting her, Meghan, the other outsider.
“Kate’s cancer diagnosis has been a real shock for Meghan, but she can see no way to patch up the relationship simply because it has become so poisonous.”
But while a royal reunion could be sadly unlikely anytime soon, could Meghan be sending these key messages from across the pond?
Last month, Meghan announced that she is launching a new lifestyle brand, which will focus on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle content, according to Page Six.
The name was revealed on Instagram and could hint about the future for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
American Riviera Orchard reportedly was chosen as the A-list area of California where Meghan and Harry live, Montecito, is known as the “American Riviera”.
By focusing her sole business on the couple’s new home in the US, instead of Britain, where they wed, it implies their future is very much focused across the pond – and the name also hints at the image the couple is now trying to portray.
Brand strategist Lucie Green told Grazia: “‘American Riviera’ sounds like old money – and then ‘Orchard’ gives it this folksy, Hamptonsy, Ina Garten feeling.”
The Duchess of Sussex said in her Harry & Meghan documentary that she tried to “fit in” to the royal family and added: “I’m not trying to stand out here.”
However, she admitted there were times when she felt less formal, including when she was ‘barefoot’ and wearing ripped jeans when she first met William.
While it may have been jarring at the time, Meghan has proved she isn’t about to change for royal protocol, and still likes to go shoe-free.
We’ve seen her barefoot sitting on the kitchen counter at Frogmore Cottage and in a Mother’s Day post this week.
Meghan and Prince Harry hit the slopes in Canada in February to celebrate the Invictus Games – and the duchess is said to have sent a secret sign with her outfit.
The Duchess of Sussex looked every inch a snow queen in $240 (£190) Sorel Joan of Arctic snow boots and an eye-wateringly expensive £360 Burberry cashmere Pom Pom beanie.
Fashion editor Amber Graafland told Fabulous that Meghan’s outfit colour choice could have sent some hidden signs.
She said: “Adept at using her clothing to convey deeper meanings, Meghan’s deployment of angelic white could of course have a much deeper meaning.
“White symbolises purity, innocence, and neutrality.
“It also represents new beginnings, which could indicate a willingness to leave the controversy of the past few days behind and move on with her newly defined role.”
Just days ago Harry and Meghan were fiercely criticised for launching a new website as part of their rebrand, with one royal expert slamming them for “cashing in” on their royal ties.
The fashion editor claims another message was sent with Meghan’s April outfit.
Dressed in a floral Oscar de la Renta shirt dress with long cuffed sleeves, Meghan wore her long hair down and parted in the middle.
“Synonymous with purity, optimism and friendship, flowers represent growth and bloom,” she said.
“As the Duchess embarks on an exciting new chapter in her life it looks like she is keen to put past events behind her and write a new, fresh new script.”
A royal expert has slammed Meghan’s decision to launch her new business on the same day as the Princess Diana‘s awards and around the time of Kate’s photoshop scandal as a show of “one-upmanship”.
Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun that “nothing is accidental” when it comes to the Sussexes.
He said: “The announcement is totally consistent with the timing of all the Sussexes announcements.
“Nothing is ever accidental. They do it to obviously push the news in their opinion.”
Meghan Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the Mail: “It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
“The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
“Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.”
Richard said the timing is also particularly significant because of the “extraordinary situation” surrounding Kate’s photoshop scandal.
The Princess of Wales was dramatically forced to apologise for digitally altering a sweet Mother’s Day picture of her and her kids.
Fitzwilliams said: “There’s no doubt at all that the Sussexes are making use of the material they have to do a bit of one-upmanship. It’s obvious.”
