Meghan Markle has been warned of a celebrity “takedown” following the launch of her American Riviera Orchard brand which may have ruffled feathers in Hollywood.
The Duchess of Sussex unveiled her new lifestyle brand last month, rapidly amassing an Instagram following. Although the brand is yet to start selling, it’s expected to offer a broad range of products including household items, cookware, pet supplies, gardening tools, beverages, food and condiments.
However, Meghan’s launch of American Riviera Orchard could potentially land her in trouble, as critics argue she’s flouting Royal Family regulations.
Royal rules forbid family members from advertising or aligning themselves with brand partnerships and endorsements. The new brand also employs Meghan’s Royal title of Duchess of Sussex, as seen in the brand’s Instagram bio where it reads “by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex”.
However, Meghan may be facing the wrath of more than just the Royal Family after the high-profile launch. The brand is rumoured to have caught the eye of Hollywood lifestyle giant Martha Stewart.
It’s been said that Meghan could pull in a six-figure revenue within the early weeks of American Riviera Orchard’s launch, thrusting her into the lifestyle industry and drawing comparisons to seasoned celebrities such as Martha Stewart.
But an inside source told In Touch that the American megastar has not been flattered by her comparison to the Duchess.
The source said: “Martha has seen hundreds of Meghan types come and go – and says they all come in with the same self-inflated hype, only to find out it’s a whole new ball game when it comes down to brass tacks.
“She’s tired of being quizzed by people over how she feels about Meghan’s venture because, honestly, it’s irritating and insulting to her that she’s being compared to a rookie!”
They noted Stewart built “decades building her brand” adding: “If Meghan thinks she can come along and replicate that with barely any experience simply because she’s married to a Prince, she better think again. Martha doesn’t put a whole lot of faith in her succeeding, but if she does prove to be any competition, Martha won’t hold back in trying to take her down.”