The Duchess of Sussex has suffered a blow after her soon-to-be-launched lifestyle brand suffered a trademark setback.
Meghan Markle has sought to trademark the name of her service, American Riviera Orchard, for International use before a wide-scale launch next year.
However, MailOnline reports that records show that in July, around four months after applying for registration, there were a number of “irregularities” that needed to be “corrected”.
Lawyers for the Sussexes have reportedly been notified by the US Patent and Trademark Office of several issues, including an incorrect classification of Yoga blankets, picnic baskets and recipe books.
Meghan launched her brand American Riviera Orchard in March 2024Getty
The agency said fees must be paid to various bodies around the world to register the trademark, totalling $11,382 (nearly £9,000). GB News has contacted the Sussexes for comment.
While details about the company are still scarce, it has been revealed that it will focus on home, garden and general lifestyle. This includes Strawberry jam, whose jars were sent to 50 influencers to test who shared the product with their online followers.
A celebrity PR specialist has said the brand’s minimalist social media strategy could alienate potential customers and leave the business owner “struggling to gain traction”.
Speaking on behalf of Betfred, Kayley Cornelius said: “Meghan is running before she can walk when it comes to her new brand American Riviera Orchard. It’s clear that the Duchess is trying to sell a certain lifestyle with the variety of projects and products she currently has in the works, but her communication strategy is almost cryptic as she and her team are failing to speak directly to their audience.”
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American Riviera Orchard jam was shared on Tracy Robbins’ Instagram storyInstagram / mrstracyrobbins
A source close to the show told US entertainment website Page Six that the brand would focus on “things that are close to her heart” and would be an extension of her former lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Meghan has sent products such as jam and dog biscuits to friends, and the next product is reportedly set to be a rosé wine. A source with knowledge of the launch said the plan is to sell Meghan as a “beacon of inspiration, aspiration and possibility of fulfilment.”
The launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand is a move that has been in the works for at least 18 months. It can be revealed that the prospect has excited Netflix, which signed a deal with the Sussexes in 2020.
Their first documentary Harry & Meghan, which premiered in December 2022, was an international success.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured at the Invictus Games in 2023Getty
However, the Duchess has struggled to find partners to boost her brand. In a statement by royal author Tom Quinn, the failures of American Riviera Orchard could be a sign that the Sussexes’ plans are in “serious trouble”.
Quinn told The Mirror: “Harry never really had any idea of how to become an entrepreneur or a businessman in his own right.”
He continued: “He has been trained from birth to do one thing: be a royal, and he has squandered that opportunity.
“His unconditional support for his wife and her business ventures has never wavered, but it has not been enough to make his company a success. Meghan is proof that self-confidence does not always guarantee success. It does not always make you a great businessman and businesswoman.”
