Prince Harry and Meghan RECAP: How Sussexes' latest embarrassment could've been avoided

Meghan Markle's new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has hit a hurdle before it has been properly launched.

By Grace Piercy, News Reporter

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent blunder could have been avoided (Image: Getty)

The Sussexes' most recent embarrassment could have been avoided, according to a PR expert. Another company has been using the name of Meghan Markle's new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, to sell adult colouring books online.

The Duchess of Sussex announced the new venture in March, revealing she would be creating a collection of preserves, jams and nut butters to sell, as well as homeware, home fragrance, pet products and cookware.

The company has yet to be fully launched. Instead, a Shopify page started by a mystery seller in America has been selling colouring books and financial planners under the name.

Jane Owen, celebrity PR expert, told The Mirror: “I think this is an embarrassment to the people running her company for sure. They should have been more careful to tie up all uses of the name legally so this could have been avoided.

“It shows a glaring lack of overall brand strategy which should have encompassed everything and predicted this kind of thing happening and prevented it. What I recommend they do is make every legal action to get this person to cease and desist. Then they buy up everything remotely connected to the name and put their marketing and advertising in to overdrive to compensate for this and do damage control on the brand name.”
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Prince Harry makes The Crown confession in bombshell interview – including weird habit

Prince Harry has admitted to watching popular royal drama The Crown – but his streaming habit is perhaps even more astounding.

The Duke of Sussex made the unexpected revelation on an episode of Stephen Colbert's The Late Show in 2023 while promoting his memoir, Spare.

A clip from the interview has re-emerged on X (formerly Twitter) which showed Harry opening up about his viewing habits regarding the popular Netflix series.

Asked by Colbert if he ever watched the Netflix hit, he said: "Yes, I have actually watched The Crown. The older stuff and the more recent stuff."

Colbert then jokingly asked the Prince if he had ever found himself 'fact-checking' while watching. Harry playfully mimed jotting down notes and raised an eyebrow as the audience laughed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have 'open invite' to royal events - one thing stops them

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have an "open invitation" to key royal events alongside other members of the Firm - but one reason is stopping them from taking up the offer.

Trooping the Colour, a centuries-old royal tradition, is set to take place on Saturday at Buckingham Palace.

The event, which marks the monarch's official birthday, will see many members of the Royal Family in attendance.

The King's son, Prince Harry, and daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, however, are not expected to be there.

This is despite having an "open invitation" to key royal events, an expert has claimed.

Speaking on Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast, royal reporter Charlotte Griffiths said: "It's really sad but it's hard to imagine Harry on a balcony now.

"Meghan's first Trooping the Colour with Harry today on and there's a video and he was he really came to life on the balcony and he was showing her how it's done and where to look and she actually had a very awkward exchange with the Princess of Wales."

Prince Harry planning new explosive memoir with a huge twist

Prince Harry could put pen to paper once again as he is reportedly writing a second book, but this time with more of a "conciliatory tone", a royal expert has claimed.

In January 2023, the Duke of Sussex shocked the world when he published his memoir, Spare, which featured allegations against the Royal Family.

The book went on to become the fastest-selling non-fiction book in British history, shifting more than 400,000 copies in the UK in one day alone.

Royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror: "I’m told the couple have discussed Harry writing another book. He can’t write another Spare, but he will be aware that writing a more conciliatory book might even help thaw relations with his brother."

Prince Harry also had said in an interview following the release of his memoir in January 2023 that he had enough material, some 400 pages-worth, to write "two books".

Before Spare was officially released, it was mistakenly released in Spain earlier, with journalists scrambling to get a copy to report on what was inside before it was taken off the shelves.

Prince Harry's huge public pledge to King Charles torn apart by expert

Prince Harry’s public pledge to see his family “as much as I can” has been ripped apart. The Duke of Sussex jetted to the UK as soon as he could following his father’s cancer diagnosis back in February.

But since then the prince hasn’t seen his father again - including during a visit to celebrate the Invictus Games in May - despite the vow to do so.

Now the promise has been ripped apart by royal commentator and journalist Charlotte Griffiths who said he “just wouldn’t separate” from wife Meghan Markle for long enough to honour it.

After his whistlestop trip to see his father Harry said: "I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could."

He added "I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can."

Meghan Markle risks crippling her new lifestyle brand as she struggles with two things

Meghan Markle risks crippling the success of her new lifestyle brand 'American Riviera Orchard' if she does not focus on two key areas that she finds "really difficult".

It is said the Duchess of Sussex is "struggling to find staff" for her new business venture which she first launched online in March.

Royal author and expert Tom Quinn claims that Meghan is having trouble recruiting staff because she has a "tough outlook" and "absolute self-belief" and these two areas of focus she finds "really difficult" when it comes to managing her staff.

As reported in the Mirror, Tom explained: "The result of Meghan's tough outlook is that she is having difficulties finding staff for her new brand - she wants them to be full of ideas of their own, but also totally compliant to her wishes.

"Meghan has absolute self-belief...But to make her brand a success she needs to take and accept advice and allow staff who know far more about these things to make some of the decisions. This is really difficult for Meghan as she is not a natural delegator."

Meghan Markle's return to acting teased as filming starts on new Suits spin-off

Meghan Markle's possible return to Suits has been at the centre of discussions recently, as filming for the legal drama's LA spin-off is well underway.

The Duchess of Sussex starred as Rachel Zane in seven seasons of the hugely successful Netflix show which ran from 2011 to 2019.

But she left in 2018 after getting married to Prince Harry and moving to Britain.

However, as she has now stepped down as a senior working royal, the 42-year-old would be free to rejoin the hit series again, had she wanted to.

Suits: L.A. will focus on a new character called Ted Black, a former New York prosecutor who built an LA law firm that specialises in criminal and entertainment law.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'desperation' on Montecito life laid bare

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, show a "desperation to be taken seriously" which involves trying to create important contacts in the USA, a royal podcast host has claimed.

The royal duo now live in a Montecito mansion in California after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.

Podcast host, Kinsey Schofield, talking on Sky News Australia, said: "They [Harry and Meghan] try to align themselves with people like Governor Gavin Newsom [California's Governor], Stacey Abrams, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former First Lady Hilary Clinton. They go out of their way to associate themselves with some of these people."

Sky News host Rita Panahi agreed stating Prince Harry and Meghan's current position was "a long way from the standing they once had".

Rita also commented on the recent D-Day commemorative events which saw King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William mix with world leaders to send a strong global message.Kinsey added: "I'm sure he sits back and thinks 'I've given up a lot and now I'm chasing Netflix money'."

King Charles feels lack of closeness with Archie and Lilibet 'acutely'

King Charles III feels his lack of closeness with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet "acutely", it has been reported.

The monarch is understood to have told friends that he is keener than ever to have a relationship with his two youngest grandchildren, who now live in America with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Hoping to be more present in their lives, the King is said to be dissatisfied with just seeing Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, via the occasional video call.

Queen Camilla is also reportedly encouraging her husband to increase his efforts in building a relationship with Archie and Lilibet.

Speaking to MailOnline, royal commentator Michael Cole said that the monarch feels a "lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely".

This is said to be especially present for the monarch given that his own childhood was affected by his parents' long distances on tours of the Commonwealth.

The former BBC royal correspondent said that the King is looking "as happy and as content as I have ever seen him", but that his only regrets are his lack of contact with Archie and Lilibet.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'want to be invited to' two key A-list events

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a "challenge" securing invites to A-list events in the US, a royal expert claims, with two key ones they "want to be seen at".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to California after announcing in early 2020 they would be stepping down as senior royals.

Since their move, statewide relations with the rest of the Royal Family are said to be fraught, and in the past couple of years Harry has made only brief trips to Britain on his own.

The Sussexes also missed out on one of the major high society events of the year last week, the marriage of Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, a close pal of both Prince Harry and Prince William.

Speaking to The Mirror, Richard Fitzwilliams said: "The challenge for Harry and Meghan is to attend comparable events in the United States which are not focused on them.

"The Met Gala and the Oscars are the sort of events they would benefit from being seen at, since they have pretensions to be A-listers.

"Barack Obama's 60th, held in 2021, the year they were in Time Magazine's Top 100, is the sort of event they would undoubtedly want to be seen at but were not invited to."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's secret UK home worth £2.5m they had to give up

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in a range of different properties during their eight-year relationship before quitting the Royal Family in 2020 and moving to California, but one secret £2.5m UK home is barely discussed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a two-year lease on a property located in the idyllic Cotswolds, an area of natural beauty in the southwest of the UK, shortly before they walked down the aisle in May 2018.

The Oxfordshire property acted as an interim home base while the couple awaited renovations on Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Frogmore Cottage had been a gift from Queen Elizabeth II following the couple's wedding in 2018 and they spent £2.4 million on renovations for the five-bedroom family home.

Harry wrote in his memoir of Frogmore: "Once upon a time, this was going to be my forever home. Instead, it had proved to be just another brief stop."

Estimated to be worth £2.5 million in 2018 the stunning 18th-century Cotswolds Grade II-listed house comprises three primary structures: the main farmhouse, a separate two-bedroom cottage for staff and guests, and a converted barn that boasts not one but two kitchens, one on each of its two floors.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seen as 'sideshow' in US while celeb pals 'drop like flies'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's celebrity friends are said to be 'dropping like flies' as the couple are seen as a 'sideshow' by the American public.

It comes after former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has reportedly become the latest celebrity to have distanced herself from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

According to Closer, the 50-year-old has essentially 'ghosted' Meghan, while ex-England captain husband David was recently spotted meeting King Charles after being appointed ambassador for The King's Foundation.

The two couples were said to have been long-term friends, with Meghan wearing a jumper from Victoria's fashion label for their engagement announcement in 2017, and the British stars attending the Royal Wedding.

However, their relationship appears to have soured, with Prince William and Princess Kate reportedly being invited to Victoria and David's eldest son Brooklyn Beckham's wedding to Nicola Peltz in 2022, while Meghan and Harry were seemingly not on the guest list.

Prince Harry's 'honeymoon period' with Meghan coming to an end for heart-breaking reason

Prince Harry's "honeymoon period" in the US with Meghan Markle has come to an end, according to a royal expert who claimed the Duke is now "sad" and "missing his old life in the UK."

The Sussexes moved to the US in 2020 after their acrimonious exit from the Royal Family.

They have since built a new, more independent, life in the States, living in a luxurious Montecito mansion in California.

Harry and Meghan's life away from the royals has also seen them pursue their own ventures such as Netflix series, podcasts, a memoir, and a new lifestyle brand.

But royal expert Tom Quinn claims Harry is no longer enjoying his new life as much as he once did.

Expert reveals 'biggest diva' in Royal Family as Meghan Markle only takes second spot

A royal expert has revealed the two "biggest divas" in the Royal Family with Meghan Markle coming in at second place. Speaking on the Sun's latest royal podcast, it is claimed Princess Margaret snatches the number one spot.

Former BBC royal correspondent, Jennie Bond shared her opinion on the podcast when asked who the biggest diva in the Royal Family was. She said: "I think historically, probably Princess Margaret was. A real diva."

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, is often remembered as the epitome of royal glamour and sophistication.

Although she played her part as a dutiful member of the Royal Family, it was her personality which was sometimes described as that of a "diva".

The Queen's youngest sister was also known for her tendency not to hold back and was sometimes accused of being "rude" to people she had just met.

Prince Harry 'intimidated' by two royals after 'secret meeting' plot

Prince Harry recalls asking for a "secret meeting" with his father, the then-Prince Charles and brother, Prince William, when he flew to the UK to attend the funeral of his late grandfather, Prince Philip.

Harry's thoughts were penned in his bombshell memoir, Spare, released in January 2023, where he detailed feeling intimidated by the royal pair.

The Duke of Sussex recalled panicking that they had "changed their minds" about meeting with him while he was back in England, and admitted he "considered giving up" when he believed they weren’t going to come.

However, when heading back to the house where his cousins were gathered, Harry spotted William and Charles on their way to meet him.

He wrote: "Then, at last, I saw them. Shoulder to shoulder, striding towards me, they looked grim, almost menacing. More, they looked tightly aligned. My stomach dropped.

"Normally they’d be squabbling about one thing or another, but now they appeared to be in lockstep - in league. The thought occurred: Hang on, are we meeting for a walk...or a duel?"

Meghan Markle brutally snubbed by Sophie Trudeau in 10-word swipe

Sophie Trudeau who was previously married to the Canadian Prime Minister gave Meghan Markle the cold shoulder and refused to confirm an existing friendship between the two women.

In a brutal 10-worded snub earlier this year, Sophie told The Times: "I know her... but we haven't spent much time together."

Justin Trudeau's ex-wife was featured on Meghan Markle's failed podcast, Archetypes in November 2022, when Meghan described a day of laughter and fun that the pair spent at her Montecito mansion, where their children played in the swimming pool on pizza-shaped floats.

Meghan admitted described how Sophie used to send her "little meditations" during her pregnancy and voice notes "of encouragement" to the Duchess. She also described how they drank wine on her terrace and were "giddy like absolute schoolgirls."

However, in the interview, Sophie turned the conversation over to Meghan's sister-in-law instead and revealed her "heart just sunk" when she heard about Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's family face 'far-right extremist and terror threat' in UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's family faces the threat of "far right extremists and terrorists" in the UK, which could garner public sympathy amid his security struggles, a Royal commentator has suggested.

The Duke of Sussex has recently won the right to challenge the High Court's ruling on the level of protection he and his family should be afforded while in Britain, a decision that is made on a case-by-case basis.

His legal team confirmed that Harry has been granted permission to appeal, leading the Court of Appeal to schedule a hearing for his case.

This move comes after the Home Office stripped him of his automatic personal police security upon his return to the UK in February 2020.

Before opting out of Royal duties and moving to California with Meghan Markle in March 2020, Harry enjoyed the same full publicly-funded security as other senior members of the Royal Family.

Nonetheless, after stepping down, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) concluded in April that Harry would no longer receive the same level of security as before.

Prince Harry's 4-word admission shows how he really feels about US life with Meghan Markle

Following their departure from royal duties, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry relocated to California to seek a life away from the Royal Family with their children, but it is claimed Prince Harry is harbouring thoughts about his new lifestyle.

Speaking on Sky News Australia, royal commentator and podcast host, Kinsey Schofield, issued four poignant words Prince Harry may be thinking about his new life having "given up a lot" in relation to his role growing up as a Prince.

Discussing the recent D-Day commemorations attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William, the podcast host explained the Firm would have been mingling with powerful global leaders for such an important event. Kinsey said: "I'm sure he sits back and thinks 'I've given up a lot and now I'm chasing Netflix money'."

In agreement, the TV host Rita Panahi reflected on the couple's current position being "a long way from the standing they once had".

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'contingency' for Donald Trump win

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be "worried sick" about being "kicked out" of their new home country if former president Donald Trump becomes the next US president.

This comes as Trump previously hinted he would possibly revoke the Duke of Sussexes' visa should he win the forthcoming November election.

Prince Harry's US visa application is now under review by a judge after he admitted to previous drug use in his highly controversial memoir, Spare.

The Heritage Foundation launched a lawsuit to investigate whether he lied on his visa application when he moved to California with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

US President Joe Biden's lawyers are currently complying with a court order to move the case forward.

Speaking to New Idea, a source said: "The Sussexes are worried sick over the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president again - and making good on his vow to kick Prince Harry out of America.

"They're putting together a contingency plan that would see them flee the country with their children [Archie and Lilibet] if Trump does return to office."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'face repeat of Spotify embarrassment with Netflix axe'

A Royal commentator has sounded the alarm over Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's potential repeat of a past blunder that once left them red-faced on the global stage.

Royal biographer Tom Quinn has hinted that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could face a devastating blow if they were to lose their lucrative Netflix deal.

Amidst swirling rumours, there's talk that their five-year agreement with the streaming giant, set for renewal in 2024, might be axed. Tom said they "would find it impossible to recover from the blow".

Tom dished details on the Sussexes' Spotify debacle, where their partnership was cut short due to insufficient content, causing the pair considerable embarrassment and a keenness to avoid another disaster.

"It's very likely to be a repeat of the problem with the couple's Spotify contract which came to an abrupt end in 2023 after Harry and Meghan failed, according to a Spotify spokesperson, to meet 'productivity benchmarks'," Tom said.

King Charles warned his desire to see Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could backfire

Friends of King Charles have stated he wishes to develop a closer relationship with his youngest grandchildren, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, but this desire could backfire.

Having only had limited communications with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children, mostly via video calls, he is said to be keen to be "more present in their lives". Royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline: "Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."

He added: "The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible."

However, columnist Amanda Platell has warned the catch about seeing his grandchildren would mean seeing the Montecito-based duo more too.

Writing for the same publication, Amanda said this would bring a "whole host of problems". She writes: "One can only imagine the unholy circus. If they brought the grandkids here to see the King, would Meghan have her Netflix crew in tow filming every moment?"

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