Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand debuts strawberry jam product, leaving fans baffled

Meghan Markle’s first product under her luxury brand American Riviera Orchard has left royal watchers puzzled.

Meghan Markle appears to have launched her first product under her new luxury brand American Riviera Orchard – but the presentation has left fans baffled.

Influences and friends have shared photos online of the royal’s strawberry jam, including LA fashion designer Tracy Robbins.

Robbins shared an image of her holding the jar with the words: “@AmericanRivieraOrchard breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.”

Observers have taken aim at Meghan Markle’s marketing strategy for American Riviera Orchard. Picture: AFP

The jam, numbered 17 of 50, appears beside a basket of lemons.

It’s the presentation of the jam, alongside lemons, that has left observers confused.

“Why photograph strawberry jam in a basket of lemons? Why wouldn’t you use strawberries?” X user, @Kyliewe44398439 wrote.

Similarly, user @TheWoolPainter said: “I’m a little confused as to why she has displayed it in a basket of lemons, wouldn’t you have fresh strawberries to hint at the contents, its freshness and its authenticity?.”

Another observer took aim at Meghan’s marketing skills: “Who puts strawberry jam in a basket of lemons? Surely that should be lemon curd? Marketing is not Meghan’s forte”.

Fashion designer Tracy Robbins’ post with Meghan’s jam. Picture: Instagram

Meghan’s jam comes in a glass jar featuring a fabric top fastened in a bow and stamped with the brand logo. Each of the jam jars are numbered between 1-50.

The American Riviera Orchard logo also appears on the front alongside the brand name and Montecito underneath – the celebrity enclave in California where Meghan, Prince Harry and their children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie reside.

The jam is not for sale yet and it is unclear how much it will retail for.

The Duchess of Sussex announced her new venture last month on Instagram with a video of her cooking in a kitchen with a backdrop of white and pink flowers.

In line with Meghan’s alleged wish to be the next Martha Stewart, it was initially reported that the “Sussex shop” would be selling home and kitchenware such as linens, jams and preserves. However, a full list reveals that the Duchess of Sussex is also looking to expand into skincare, make-up, luxury stationery and pet products,

The website is not fully up and running yet, but there is a call out for subscribers interested in updates.

It comes as Prince Harry changed his country of residence from Britain to the United States in official paperwork, four years after quitting the Royal Family for a new life in the US.

Documents showed the Duke of Sussex put his “New Country/State Usually Resident” as America in June last year. He previously listed the UK as his primary home.

The Companies House filings signal a clear break with Britain, after he and Meghan Markle quit the Royal Family in 2020.

He filed the notice changing his personal details in connection with Travalyst, the eco-tourism organisation he founded with Ms Markle in 2019 while they were still working members of the Royal Family.