Meghan’s ‘hotel and restaurant’ plan revealed as she looks to expand empire

The Duchess of Sussex’s next project has been revealed as she focuses on building her post-royal empire.

The Duchess of Sussex is adding hotels and restaurants to her brand wish list as she goes on a social media charm offensive to win new fans.

Ex-actress Meghan is trademarking her lifestyle firm As Ever for “hospitality services”.

It will include places to stay, “provision of food and drink” and temporary lodgings, reports The Sun.

The 43-year-old could serve some of her own food ­creations — including recipes flaunted on her Netflix series With Love, Meghan.

Experts say it shows her ambition to move forward and focus on the future, while husband Prince Harry, 40, seems stuck reflecting on the past.

She has spent the year rebranding herself away from ­runaway royal to a lifestyle, entertaining and star hostess.

Meghan Markle sold out of her As Ever product range in less than an hour. Picture: Instagram

She has been focused on her rebrand in recent months. Picture: Instagram

Brand experts said hotels and restaurants fit in with her lifestyle business image.

In the first episode of her eight-part TV series in March, Meghan said: “When I have someone stay, one of my favourite things to do is prep the guest room.”

A second series has already been filmed and will be released in the autumn.

Her lifestyle brand’s website says: “As Ever is more than a brand — it’s a love language. ­

“Created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, As Ever welcomes you to a collection of products, each inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining and hostessing.”

On Saturday, her As Ever page posted a new picture of her running through the sea in a white dress.

It was captioned: “So excited for all the good to come!

“Running into the weekend like”, with an ocean wave emoji added.

She has also been increasingly active on Instagram after relaunching her personal account on New Year’s Day.

Last week, she shared an 80-second video of her twerking in hospital in a bid to induce labour when she was pregnant and overdue with Lilibet.

It attracted criticism in Britain for being vulgar.

But a source said: “Meghan is very pleased with the video.

“In the UK everyone’s reaction has been a bit prudish but everywhere else, particularly in America and especially with young people, it’s been a huge hit.

At the Time100 summit in April. Picture: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME

‘Californian royalty’

“Her new products are marketed at Americans and not the UK.”

Meghan has also posted videos of her family at Disneyland, beekeeping with daughter Lilibet, and going to a Beyonce concert with Harry.

Her As Ever Instagram page launched in February.

Posts include pictures of her gardening, preparing fresh fruit and baking.

PR and branding expert Jack Izzard, of Gallia Communications, said of her trademark application: “In terms of positioning, it’s not a million miles from where As Ever is.

“She is very much positioning herself as a star hostess, Californian royalty who makes her guests feel welcome.

“The issue she’s potentially going to have is that’s a completely different skill set, running a hospitality business.

“A night in an As Ever B&B will be several hundred pounds.

“That’s really going to blow up if it’s bad.”

Mr Izzard said her recent activities are “all about her reclaiming her voice” and building her brand.

He added: “She always intimated she was stifled by life in the Royal Family.

“She’s got to earn a living. It’s very much ‘I’m this Californian hostess now’.

“Harry’s still stuck in the past and trying to settle scores.

“She is looking ahead, forging this brand.”

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were approached for comment.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Meghan’s ‘hotel and restaurant’ plan revealed as she looks to expand empire