CELEBRITY
BREAKING: Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand name is stolen by a COPYCAT website and used to sell cheeky adult coloring books about ‘working class royalty’
It’s not all work no play for the royals, with an online seller using the same name of Meghan Markle’s own lifestyle brand to sell a tongue-in-cheek adult item. The online store, using the same name as the Duchess of Sussex’s American Riviera Orchard, offers up adult coloring books – including one labelled Working Class Royalty – for sale, as first reported by The Independent.
The site is known for selling anti-monarchy products, launched after the Duchess announced her own lifestyle brand. The book, which retails for $9.99 on the website, says the book will ‘unveil the hidden royalty in everyday life with our Working Class Royalty coloring pages.’ ‘This captivating collection celebrates the strength and grace of women from all walks of life, blending the regal allure of royalty with the resilience of the working class,’ the description continues to read. Explore five enchanting scenes that honor the majesty found in everyday moments.’
The coloring book encourages users to ‘color to these empowering illustrations,’ hoping to remind every woman is ‘a queen in her own right.’ Meghan’s brand soft launched earlier in the year, with an official Instagram page and website – although there is yet to be anything for sale on the website. DailyMail.com has confirmed that the Shopify page has no affiliation to the Duchess.
The website’s blog states that royal titles have ‘no significance,’ adding the ‘RoyalWealth Reign™ line’ was established to ‘recognize and celebrate the working class who are the true heart of our country.’ ‘In America, we do not recognize a royal title by someone’s name,’ it reads. ‘In America, we believe ALL are created EQUAL. A royal title therefore has no significance.’ The website also sells a calendar and a financial planner.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for American Riviera Orchard and the Shopify page for comment. Meghan launched the new lifestyle brand in March, making a subtle announcement on Instagram. She shared the logo originally in a 10-second story video while dressed in a black ball gown, then wearing a simple white outfit while arranging flowers and cooking in the kitchen of her $14.7 million estate, set to the music of jazz singer Nancy Wilson’s I Wish You Love.
However, she hasn’t updated her social media page for the brand since. In April, Meghan sent 50 jars of her strawberry jam to influencers and celebrity friends across the United States. Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, revealed on social media they had been gifted jars of the jam as the Duchess prepared to launch her lifestyle brand.
Other recipients have revealed themselves as Meghan’s fellow ‘polo wife’ Delfina Blaquier – the wife of Prince Harry’s best friend Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Figueras – fashion designer Tracy Robbins and the Duchess’s close friend of many years, Kelly McKee Zajfen. Each jar was labelled with the plush Californian American Riviera Orchard branding, and numbered out of 50 – suggesting Meghan has carefully selected 50 recipients to try her first batch.
The jars are secured with a lid and a muslin cloth, tied together with twine. Meghan’s brand will reportedly feature ‘edible oils and fats’, jellies, jams and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame, as well as nut and fruit butters.