As Prince Harry’s 40th birthday plans take shape this weekend, many are wondering if this new milestone will be enough to thaw the icy relations with his family across the pond. Despite the ongoing tension between the Duke of Sussex and the rest of the Windsor clan, it seems one person—King Charles—isn’t ready to give up on reconnecting with his youngest son just yet.
The Duke of Sussex turns 40 on September 15, 2024. According to royal insiders, the King is planning a surprise gesture to Harry on his big day. A well-placed source told the Daily Express, “The King will reach out to Harry on his birthday. Although the family are not as close as they once were, there is still a lot of love there.” The source added that the royal family tends to use Skype for their long-distance communications, allowing them to see each other face-to-face, with staff ensuring the calls run smoothly.
This olive branch comes at a time when Harry’s relationships with his father, brother Prince William, and sister-in-law Kate Middleton are reportedly strained to the point of radio silence. The rift, which has been widening ever since Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties, was further exacerbated by the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare in January 2023.
Despite the family drama, Harry seems to be embracing this new chapter in his life with optimism. In a recent statement shared by his spokesperson with the BBC, the prince reflected on his upcoming milestone: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40,” he said. “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”
The duke also touched on how fatherhood has shifted his perspective. “Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work,” Harry shared. “Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”
While the royal family may not be present for Harry’s birthday celebrations, it seems the duke won’t be short on festivities. Sources close to the couple report that Meghan has planned a weekend of low-key celebrations in California. The itinerary reportedly includes a family day at home with their children, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, followed by a small gathering with close friends.
“Harry is quite low-key when it comes to celebrating his birthday,” a friend told Vanity Fair. “This will be a special occasion, but not over-the-top and with the people he really counts as close friends.” There’s also talk of a boys-only trip on the horizon, giving Harry a chance to celebrate with his international circle of friends.
As Harry enters his forties, those in his inner circle paint a picture of a happy life. “He feels he has ticked all the boxes: He’s married, he’s a dad, he’s living the life he always wanted to live away from the media at home, and he’s really happy,” one friend shared with Vanity Fair.
However, this newfound happiness hasn’t come without its costs. As a former royal courtier previously noted, “He misses his father and the close relationship he had with his brother, but I get the impression he’s relieved to be away from some of the toxicity that came with being in the royal family. He’s living a simpler life now and, I would say, a happier one.”
As Harry blows out his birthday candles this weekend, many royal watchers will be keeping a close eye on any signs of reconciliation between the duke and his family. Could King Charles’ gesture be the first step towards healing their fractured relationship? Only time will tell.
Meghan Markle is going forward with her plans for her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which began sending out samples to select influencers earlier this spring. According to a trademark filing, the process is still ongoing, with representatives at the US Patent and Trademarks Office objecting to a few aspects of the name and a previous application’s description of the brand’s calligraphic logo. Despite reports claiming otherwise, the news doesn’t necessarily represent a setback for the brand, which is reportedly preparing for a wider launch later this year.
A source close to the duchess said that the process is still ongoing. “American Riviera Orchard, as part of its on-going Trademark Application, has received several office actions,” they told Vanity Fair. “These are routine and expected when filing for trademarks.”
According to the Daily Mail, Markle’s legal representation has already gone through two rounds of back and forth about the logo, name, and company’s intended products. In a “non-final” action document, the PTO mentions trademark law related to the patent of geographic locations and the wording of other aspects of the application.
Markle first announced her plans to start her own brand with an Instagram account and website in March. American Riviera Orchard’s first announced product was a jar of raspberry jam that she sent to friends includingChrissy Teigen, Kris Jenner, Tracy Robbins and Delfina Blaquier.
In an August interview with the New York Times, Meghan explained that the investments that she has made in women-owned businesses, including Cesta Collective, have helped her launch her own brand. “When people are online looking for things or reading things, I’m trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories,” she said. “Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself,” the duchess said. The newspaper added that Markle’s portfolio now includes between five and 10 brands.
But, before that, the couple were living in Los Angeles, specifically at famed Hollywood actor and director Tyler Perry’s $18 mansion on the Beverly Ridge estate.
Their move back to California was a true homecoming for Meghan who was born and bred in Los Angeles.
The former Suits actress’ relocation Stateside in early 2020 with her royal husband, 39, also meant that she would have been able to spend much more time with her mom, Doria Ragland, with whom she had a close bond.
Meghan Markle and mom Doria’s secret outings
Doria, a 66-year-old retired social worker and yoga instructor, lives in a humble bungalow in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, and when Meghan lived nearby, she spent lots of time with her daughter going on hiking trails.
Meghan previously shared details of their outings on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Meghan Markle and her mom, Doria, would hike in the Pacific Palisades which has incredible views
The Duchess, who closed her online account in 2017 when her relationship with Prince Harry became serious, previously explained how she and her mom would head down to the Pacific Palisades, roughly 22 minutes by car from Doria’s home, to go on hiking trails, specifically the Los Liones route.
The famous trail is just shy of seven kilometres and offers incredible views of the canyon and the entire Pacific Palisades area. The elevation is also listed as 543 feet, meaning you also get an amazing view of the ocean.
Meghan wrote: “My mom and I do this run when I am home and it’s so feel-good. It’s amazing.”
Meghan also used to hike Runyon Canyon where you get a great view of the Hollywood sign
Another area the mother-of-two told her followers about before is Runyon Canyon, which is a very famous hiking trail located above Hollywood. However, Meghan stated that it could get a little overpopulated.
The former actor said it was this reason why she had a “love-hate” relationship with the area: “The hate part is that on weekends it can get crowded and there is endless Hollywood talk of auditions and projects that are greenlit.”
Meanwhile, Meghan and Harry now live further up the coast of California in Santa Barbara and it’s thought that Doria often visits them and helps with looking after little Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
You may also likeWATCH: See inside Meghan and Harry’s gorgeous Montecito home
The home boasts plenty of bedrooms, reception rooms, a huge kitchen and a massive garden for the family of four to make the most of, and so there is plenty of space to accommodate Grandma Doria when she visits as her home in Los Angeles is over an hour away by car.
Meghan lives in Montecito with Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
Meghan and Harry have a close circuit of friends in Santa Barbara. It’s thought that the Duchess sees the likes of Serena Williams and Ellen DeGeneres, in addition to a group of local moms, regularly.
Meghan has previously spoken about her friendships and the importance of female solidarity. During a chat with Variety magazine in 2022, she said: “The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.”
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During his recent tour of Colombia with his wife Meghan Markle, Prince Harry‘s necklace seems to have caught some attention due to its somewhat controversial history.
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, touched down in Bogota on August 15, 2024. They were warmly greeted by Vice President Francia Márquez—the first Black woman to hold this position in Colombia—and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo. But it wasn’t just the high-profile meeting that sparked headlines.
The Duke of Sussex, who’s been navigating choppy waters since stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California with Meghan, seems to have picked a piece of jewelry that carries more weight than meets the eye. The necklace in question is a gift from a friend in Botswana, a place that holds special significance for the couple (remember, that’s where they went on their third date). It features three charms: a tiger’s eye stone and two silver pendants gifted to him by Meghan, each etched with the heartbeats of their children, Archie and Lilibet.
But here’s where things get interesting. The necklace also has a bit of royal drama attached to it. In his memoir, Spare , Harry recounted an alleged physical altercation with his brother, Prince William, who he claims tore the necklace off his neck.
“He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out,” Harry writes in Spare. The alleged incident, according to Harry, was sparked by William’s comments about Meghan being “rude” and “abrasive.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Harry discussed the incident with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. He mentioned that the necklace was “now fixed” and explained its significance: “I’ve got my kids’ heartbeats, which my wife gave me,” he said, referring to the etched pendants. “And a friend of mine in Botswana made this for me, which has got tiger’s eye on it.”
Over a year later, the Duke of Sussex is back to sporting what appears to be this very same necklace. In photos from the trip, you can spot the cord peeking out from his open-collared shirts as he mingles with Colombian students and officials.
During their visit, Meghan and Harry discussed their mission to create a safer digital landscape and promote mental health for children worldwide. Perhaps Harry’s choice to wear this particular necklace—with its history of being broken and mended—is more than just a fashion statement. Could it be a symbol of new beginnings? A reminder that even fractured relationships can be repaired?
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that this simple cord necklace carries a ton of meaning for the prince. As he continues to forge his own path outside of traditional royal duties, he’s keeping reminders of his journey close to his heart—or in this case, around his neck.
Courtesy of: Random House.
For more about Prince Harry, read his memoir, Spare. Told for the first time in his own words, the book takes readers through the Duke of Sussex’s life with the British royal family, from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 to how the moment led to his decision decades later to move to America with his wife, Meghan Markle, and leave Buckingham Palace for good in 2020. “With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief,” the publisher’s description reads.
The Duchess of Sussex‘s unrivalled elegance has reigned supreme throughout her four-day tour of Colombia with Prince Harry.
From silhouette-enhancing separates to tailored workwear and a breathtaking revival of the late Princess Diana’s precious jewels, Meghan has proven her penchant for effortless style as she and her husband work through a packed agenda.
As the couple kick-started their final day in South America, Meghan’s exquisite fashion sense stood out amongst the crowd as she sported a poised and elegant look, wearing a white button down vest with a floral midi skirt.
Meghan wore a white buttoned vest with a gorgeous sequinned midi skirt
While the vest added a touch of sophistication when she joined a panel of dignitaries for the “Afro Woman and Power” Forum, it was her skirt that truly provided some additional bling. She wore a Silvia Tcherassi Blair sequinned midi skirt, covered in beautifully ornate and colorful floral print atop a beige fabric.
The mother-of-two, who shares Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, with Prince Harry, paired her stunning look with gold jewelry accents, including a few bracelets and matching earrings.
The former actress swept her raven hair into a chignon with some tresses flowing down to frame her face, highlighting her natural beauty with her go-to beauty combo of a dewy base, golden bronzer and smudged eyeliner look.
She and Harry greeted attendees at the Forum at the Municipal Theater in Cali
Meghan and Harry, who were invited to Colombia by personal invitation of vice president Francia Marquez after she was moved by their Netflix documentary, have been embracing the country’s culture across their four-day stopover.
They were also invited to draw a focus on their personal priorities, such as the impact of the digital world on young people, celebrating the military community and female empowerment.
Meghan looked amazing in a halter neck two-piece on her first day in Colombia
She paired the dress with heels from Aquazzura, a beloved brand of the Duchess’, and a necklace by Logan Howell.
On Friday she visited Colegio La Giralda, a school in Santa Fe, where she looked polished in a Loro Piana linen blazer in a camel hue paired with cigarette pants and a tailored white shirt.
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After cultural experiences and a bit of dancing, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ended the first day of their visit to Colombia with some serious statements about their major charitable undertaking to promote online safety. Speaking at the Summit on a Responsible Digital Future held at Bogotá’s Universidad EAN, Meghan explained why she thinks everyone should get involved in their quest to improve the culture of social media.
“We should model how we want our kids to be raised and for the world in which we raise them,” she said, wearing a copper blouse from Victoria Beckham and pants from La Ligne. “It doesn’t matter where you live. It doesn’t matter who you are. Either you personally or someone you know is a victim to what’s happening online. And that’s something we can actively work on every day to remedy.”
According to Harper’s Bazaar,Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, did not accompany their parents on the trip to the Latin American nation.
On Thursday night, the pair appeared in a panel alongside Maria Ressa, who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her work fighting for press freedom in the Philippines, and Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez, who greeted the duke and duchess at her official residence earlier on Thursday. Márquez spoke about her own experiences with digital harassment after becoming the first Black woman to serve as vice president in the nation’s history, adding that she hoped society could strike a better balance when it comes to the media climate and online platforms that affect mental health.
During the panel, Harry discussed the Archewell Foundation’s new Parents’ Network project and said that he has been learning from the way that founders in the tech industry regulate their own children’s access to technology. “Other people might listen to the parents themselves,” he said. “You don’t need me to tell you that they don’t allow their children to use these platforms, which really says it all, let’s be honest.”
The prince added that he wanted to empower young people to “share their lived experiences” about encountering harm online in a purposeful way. “The purpose is a unified voice being able to go to the source of the problem to really effect change,” he said. “With the Archewell Foundation, me and my wife believe that information integrity is a fundamental right.”
Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images.
Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images.
The evening’s programming wrapped up a busy day that saw Meghan and Harry meet citizens of Bogotá from all walks of life. Following a breakfast of pandebono at Márquez’s residence, the pair traveled to Colegio Cultura Popular, a local charter school, where students were yelling with excitement upon their arrival.
Meghan and Harry were greeted by the school’s headmaster, Leonel Umaña Parra, and student José David, before heading inside to participate in a session where they heard students discussed their experiences navigating life on the internet. During the session, Meghan praised the students for being “impressive, smart, and savvy” and emphasized the importance of trying to be “self-reliant and not tech reliant.”
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 15: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex are seen at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Colombia Visit on August 15, 2024 in Bogota, Colombia. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images
Meghan started the day in a sleeveless navy top and matching pants by Veronica Beard, but following the school visit, Meghan made her first outfit swap, changing into a pink and cream jacquard dress designed by Johanna Ortiz. Meghan is a longtime fan of the brand, known for it, but her choice to wear the dress in Bogotá was especially apt. Ortiz was born in Cali, Colombia, and her work is well-known for drawing inspiration from the colors and traditional patterns of Latin America.
Along with Márquez, Harry and Meghan traveled to the the Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata Olivella, where they attended an event highlighting the artistry of Bogotá. After meeting the center’s director, Xiomara Suescún, and Minister of Culture Juan David Correa, they saw a theater performance and a folklore performance with music and dancers. Though Harry remained on the sidelines, Meghan and the vice president both got involved with the dancing near the end of the show.
Much of this intrigue was due to the fact that George I hated his son, the future George II, and their feud played out in the halls of Kensington Palace. When the old king died in 1727, the spoiled, emotional King George II and his brilliant, savvy wife, Queen Caroline, continued the family tradition and feuded with their eldest son, Frederick, Prince of Wales.
During the reign of George II, life at Kensington Palace was akin to the set of a posh soap opera. “Show me some good person about that court; find me, among those selfish courtiers, those dissolute gay people,” Sir Robert Walpole wrote, per Quinn, “someone I can love and regard.”
It was also packed with people, since Queen Caroline opened the Kensington Palace gardens, which she greatly improved, to the masses every Sunday. Anyone who dressed well enough could come to jockey for a position or patronage or simply gawk at the royals themselves.
“Court dinners could be boisterous and rowdy,” Worsley writes. “Once, so many people came ‘to see their majesties dine, that the rail surrounding the table broke.’ The people who had been leaning upon it all fell over and ‘made a diverting scramble for hats and wigs, at which their Majesties laugh’d heartily.’”
But despite Kensington Palace’s importance during this time, it was already beginning to rot. According to Worsley, George II’s mistress, Henrietta Howard, found that her Kensington Palace apartment was so damp that crops of mushrooms sprouted from the floor.
Kensington Palace: the Birthplace of Queens
The “mad” King George III hated the antics of his Hanoverian ancestors, and when he became king in 1760, he left the drama of Kensington Palace for Buckingham Palace, three miles away.
Now that the monarch was no longer in residence, Kensington Palace became a rundown warehouse for excess royals. “The magnificent state rooms were slowly allowed to decay until they became a dilapidated store for coal, broken furniture and old pictures,” Quinn writes. “Meanwhile, the rest of the palace began a long cyclical period during which various apartments were updated and modernized, then left to fall apart before being renovated once more.”
One of the most famous royal family members to call Kensington Palace home was the colorful, bombastic Caroline of Brunswick, the estranged wife of the future King George IV, who established a rival court to her husband in her apartments and was known to wander Kensington Gardens and talk to strangers. Another resident was Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the eccentric ninth child of King George III, who filled his Kensington Palace apartment with his collection of rare books, medicines, and dozens of clocks.
“On the hour,” Quinn writes, “his apartment was filled with bells and gongs striking, musical tunes, national anthems, and martial airs.”
Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their sons William and Harry at home in Kensington Palace, 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images.
During an emotion-packed interview broadcast on Sunday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke openly about the dangers they believe social media companies such as Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok have wrought. Any parent’s child “could be in the next-door room on a tablet or on a phone and can be going down these rabbit holes,” Harry said of social media. “And before you know it, within 24 hours, they could be taking their life.”
According to its newly launched website, parents in the US, UK, and Canada “whose children have suffered from the harmful effects of social media, from facing near-fatal harm, managing ongoing mental health difficulties, or experiencing the tragic loss of a child” will receive “crucial support” via “a no-cost, private community for parents and caregivers bound by shared experiences of social media harms.” The website also offers “parent’s guides” to popular platforms and access to small, peer-led support groups and expert-led educational events.
The effort is rooted in Meghan Markle’s own experiences as a public figure and spouse of one of the most-watched royal family members on the planet. “When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey—certainly part of mine—is being able to be really open about it,” she said.
“If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good so everything is okay, then that’s worth it,” she said. “I’ll take a hit for that.”
“But I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way,” she said. “And I would never want someone else to be making those sorts of plans, and I would never want someone else to not be believed.”
In the rare joint interview, the couple said that the goal of The Parents’ Network is to help raise awareness of the silent threat of social media on children’s mental health. “One of the scariest things that we’ve learned over the course of the last 16, 17 years that social media’s been around, and more so recently, is the fact that it could happen to absolutely anybody,” Harry said, referring to cases of self-harm said to be rooted in the use of online platforms.
“Our kids are young; they’re three and five. Amazing. But all you want to do as parents is protect them,” Markle said. “And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we are just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”
According to Harry, a key issue for new efforts is helping parents understand when their kids are struggling with social media. “At this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder,” Harry said. “And even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. Like, that is the terrifying piece of this.”
If you need emotional support or are in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Even though Prince Harry moved to Southern California in 2020, he has continued a series of legal battles in the UK, with the aim of improving his access to security and changing the culture at the nation’s tabloids. In a new interview with ITV, Harry mentioned that his fears for Meghan Markle and her safety are partly why he has kept his legal fights going, and why he has not considered moving back to his homeland with his wife.
“It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read,” Harry told reporter Rebecca Barry in a sit-down for the network’s documentary Tabloids on Trial. “Whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is—and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.” In 2022, the former head of counterterrorism for the Met Police said Meghan received credible threats during her time in the country, and in January 2024, two neo-Nazi podcasters were sentenced to prison terms following one of the podcaster’s comments encouraging listeners to commit violence against the prince and his son, Archie.
Though Harry has made multiple visits to London in 2024, most recently to host a May service of thanksgiving in honor of the Invictus Games, Meghan has not returned to the country where she lived from 2017 to 2020 since the September 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The couple’s two children, Archie and Lilibet, have only visited once, during the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
Harry’s legal battle in the UK has proceeded on two fronts. Since 2022, he has been litigating a British government decision to deny him access to armed security when he visits the country. Though a High Court justice dismissed his claims in a February 2024 ruling, the Court of Appeal ruled that he is allowed to appeal the decision.
Beginning in fall 2019, he has filed suit against a handful of publications in the UK, alleging unlawful information-gathering practices. In June 2023, Harry testified on the stand for two days in a case against Mirror Group Newspapers, and last December the High Court ruled that the newspaper had used unlawful information in its coverage of the prince. The prince currently has ongoing suits against Associated Newspapers, parent company of the Daily Mail,and News Group UK, parent company of The Sun. (Both companies have denied any legal wrongdoing.)
In the ITV interview, Harry said that the late queen was supportive of his quest to take on the tabloids while she was alive. “We had many conversations before she passed. This is very much something she supported; she knew how much this meant to me,” he said. “She is up there going, ‘See this through to the end,’ without question.”
He also emphasized that his pursuit of justice was completely unrelated to his father, King Charles III, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton,who both announced cancer diagnoses earlier this year. “The two things are completely separate,” he said. “My father and my sister-in-law and me following through on these legal battles are two completely different things.”
When it comes to summer shoes, you can’t go wrong with an effortless espadrille. There’s something about that roped sole that instantly adds a perfectly seasonal edge to any ensemble, and while the espadrille is perhaps most closely associated with the traditional lace-up wedge or canvas flatform iterations, there are now countless other styles out there to choose from, for every sartorial preference.
Espadrilles originated in Spain hundreds of years ago as a simple, comfortable work shoe. They’ve since evolved into a versatile, fashionista-adored shoe; one that is quintessentially summer. Espadrilles are laidback yet polished, and they’re a lovely alternative when you’re not in the mood for a sporty athletic sneaker or uncomfortable heel. There’s a jute-soled shoe for every occasion; you can dress them up or down and pair them with everything from flowing maxi dresses and crisp white pants to crochet cover-ups and your favorite denim. They add a touch of sophisticated ease to any outfit, and it’s no wonder they’re so often the shoe of choice during summer months. Below, see the best espadrilles to add to your warm weather wardrobe.
The latest Meghan Markle news has seen reports the Duchess of Sussex wants to make things up with the Princess of Wales.
The ladies have been embroiled in a feud for years, but it seems Kate’s cancer diagnosis has made Meghan soften towards her. And, as a result, she’s willing to now let sleeping dogs lie, it’s claimed, and “end this feud”.
Meghan Markle is said to be keen to be in her sister-in-law’s life again (Credit: Splash News)
Latest Meghan Markle news: Hopes of ‘triggering a truce’
Ahead of her return to the spotlight at Trooping the Colour, it was claimed that Meghan and Harry reached out to Kate. However, given the current state of their relationship, they didn’t get “much of a response”.
One insider alleged to Closer: “Both Harry and Meghan have been following Kate’s recovery with huge interest. They’ve jointly reached out to send well wishes, but they’re still not really in a place with Kate to warrant much of a response. That hasn’t stopped them from trying to connect and do what they see as the right thing. When Kate gets back into action, their hope is that it might take some of the heat off them and possibly trigger a truce with her and William, and with the King, too.”
The Princess of Wales returned to her duties at Trooping the Colour over the weekend (Credit: Splash News)
‘Bigger person’
It’s claimed Meghan wants to be the “bigger person” when it comes to ending the feud. However, could she have ulterior motives?
The insider continued to claim: “Meghan’s desperate to come across as the bigger person and end this feud between them. Appearing like some sort of royal saviour could only do her image good. And, despite all their bad blood, her heart does go out to Kate. She can only imagine how hard this situation must be for her. Meghan has made it clear she’d love nothing more than to move past all the nonsense and find a way towards healing for everyone’s sake. She’s ready and willing to let the anger and bitterness go.”
Meghan Markle wants to be ‘accepted by British public’
However, the source said that it’s “not really up to her and Harry” to end the feud. They said that all the couple can do is “continue to reach out and offer olive branches”.
“There’s no doubt making peace with William and Kate would be a huge relief for Meghan on many levels. Not least because it would also improve her reputation and, in turn, the new brand she’s cultivating. Meghan would love to be accepted by the British public again. And getting the seal of approval from Kate and William would go a long way towards that.”
ED! has contacted reps for Meghan Markle for comment.
Princess of Wales returns to spotlight
Over the weekend, the Princess of Wales attended the Trooping the Colour parade in London.
She rode in a carriage with kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. She then headed to the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast.
It’s the first time Kate has been seen in public since Christmas Day.
A star-studded birthday but no Royal family? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a blast planning Lilibet’s 3rd birthday party. The Sussexes went all out for their youngest child’s celebrations but left out a significant part of their family.
Royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror all about Lilibet‘s big weekend, “Rather than go for a low-key celebration Harry and Meghan have spent the past weekend enjoying a pre-birthday bash for their daughter Lillibet’s third birthday – hugely expensive presents have been ruled out but the couple’s mansion in California was awash with celebrities including Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom and their daughter Daisy who is just a few months older than Lilibet.”
Quinn pointed out that Harry and Meghan made no effort to reach out to the Royal family to invite them. “Shockingly no invitations to Lilibet’s party were issued to members of the Royal Family.”
It would make sense since the Royal family has been dealing with health problems and is across the pond after all. “One of Harry’s old army friends said: ‘Harry knew they wouldn’t come anyway and he was pretty sure he would not have wanted them there,” Quinn continued. “But he is really sad that Archie and Lilibet cannot have any kind of relationship with their cousins while his feud with his family continues’.”
King Charles met Lilibet once during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which also coincided with Lilibet’s birthday. The Sussexes celebrated their daughter’s first birthday on June 4, 2022. The party went on at the couple’s residence at Frogmore Cottage with an intimate garden party. A source told The Sun that the party was “lovely” and “had everything you’d expect from a child’s birthday party.” The source continued, “the idea was for it to be very relaxed and casual, with people free to pop in and out as they wished.” The source also revealed that a top contender for Lilibet’s gift wishlist was a “£75 ($95 in US Dollars) pink Volkswagen Beetle ride-on toy.”
Last month, one of the highlights of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s trip to Nigeria was spending time at the Lightway Academy, where they participated in a mental health summit that focused on giving teens tools to help deal with their emotions. The summit was a part of the couple’s charity partnership with the GEANCO Foundation, a Los Angeles–based organization that helps support education and medical care in the West African nation. According to GEANCO’s CEO Afam Onyema, the partnership is ongoing, and the Archewell Foundation’s support for mental health programming for Nigeria’s teens will continue into the future.
Onyema told Vanity Fair that Harry gave a speech outlining some of his own mental health struggles, and it had a visible impact on the students. “He inspired those kids to open up and realize it’s okay to not be okay,” he says. “They were inspired so much by Harry and Megan. From the questions they asked about mental health, you could tell they were so hungry to learn more.”
Meghan and Harry first partnered with the foundation in 2023, when they supported a program to distribute period supplies and provide education about menstruation to 2,500 girls in Nigeria. Late last year, Archewell approached Onyema with the idea for a program that would expand on that previous support by adding in a mental health component for all genders. With the help of a licensed psychiatrist and a team of psychologists, GEANCO created a two-day curriculum focusing on mental health basics and their application to teen life.
Though the cornerstone of the trip was supporting wounded veterans and promoting Nigeria’s recent entry into the Invictus Games, the duke and duchess were able to spend a day with the students at Lightway as they began the program. The couple gave speeches that touched on their own experiences with some of the fundamental ideas that would be discussed, like friendship and making connections.
“Harry mentioned it during his talk: Do you see a friend in class who looks down? Do you see someone you’re playing with is not feeling well? It’s about asking, Are you okay?” Onyema explains. Then the curriculum continued unpacking those themes with trained facilitators. “The facilitator would ask, ‘Have you ever felt stressed about a test, or stressed about a family situation or a relationship? And what do you do to deal with that?’”
Not every student will benefit from beginning their seminar with a pep talk from some high-profile mental health advocates, but Meghan and Harry wanted to build something that continues beyond their visit to the nation. “They want to do a program that’s lasting, that has an effect throughout the years,” Onyema says. “We love the fact that they’re coming along as partners. It’s not just a photo op, or doing this one time. They really want to dig in and make this an ongoing part of their work, a major part of their work.”
Onyema says the students at the Lightway Academy are still benefitting from the initial summit. “The duke and duchess definitely lit a spark that we’re just happy to keep going and growing. And even now, weeks after that summit, as we’re preparing for the rest of [the lessons], kids are still asking questions, and they’re still challenging the status quo,” he adds. “It’s great to be able to be part of that change, and a lot needs to be done, a lot more on the government-funding level. But in our small but impactful way, we’re trying to make a difference.”
A striking photograph of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry taken just three days before the death of Queen Elizabeth II will be included in the permanent collection of Britain’s National Portrait Gallery, the photographer, Misan Harriman, shared on his Instagram page Thursday.
The black-and-white image of the couple holding hands on September 5, 2022, while attending the One Young World Summit in Manchester is all the more meaningful with context. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to attend the event, it was not only the beginning of an unexpected stayover so they could attend the queen’s funeral, but it was also the couple’s first working trip to the United Kingdom since their 2020 exit from their roles as working royals. A few months prior, Meghan and Harry visited the country with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a non-official capacity to attend some of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Harriman encouraged his followers to “dare to dream” in the posts where he shared his news.
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In February, Harriman spoke with People about his relationship with the Sussexes, saying that Meghan in particular “is really as a sister to me.”
“I’ve been very lucky to photograph many special moments with her and her husband and her family,” he said. “My images of them do all the talking. Portraiture for me, whether it is royalty or whether I’m in the tip of the spear in any of the civil rights movements that I care deeply about, is looking for truth. That’s fundamentally what my lens is there [for], to capture the human condition in full fidelity.”
Of the Sussexes he added, “my lens is always at their disposal, always will be.”
According to People, the photo will not be displayed in the gallery for some time, but will first be cataloged.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been the royal patron to the National Portrait Gallery since 2011.
Prince Harry, the younger son of the late Princess Diana, has been vocal about keeping his mother’s memory and legacy alive. One way he includes the former Princess of Wales in his daily life is by sharing some of her treasured jewelry with his wife, Meghan Markle.
Meghan was spotted Saturday during the couple’s trip to Nigeria wearing a delicate diamond cross pendant on a gold chain, a necklace that once belonged to Princess Diana. According to People, the sweet jewelry was a recent gift from Harry to Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are spending a handful of days abroad without their two children, appearing at engagements around the Invictus Games and their other efforts. Harry, for instance, played volleyball against wounded veterans. He lost.
Meghan doesn’t just dust off her late mother-in-law’s jewels for special occasions: Two of the diamonds in her tri-stone engagement ring also belonged to Diana, and Harry had them set into the special piece of jewelry for his 2017 proposal so his mother would part of the occasion.
The couple were invited to the west African country by the chief of defence staff, with their public engagements including a visit to a school and a training session for Nigeria: Unconquered.
Archie, who turned five last Monday, and Lilibet, who will celebrate her third birthday on 4 June, did not accompany their parents on their overseas visit, remaining at the family’s home in Montecito, California. Find out why on the latest episode of HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast...
LISTEN: Why Archie and Lilibet did not join Harry and Meghan on Nigeria trip
But the youngsters have not been far from Meghan’s mind as she revealed at the Lightway Academy on Friday that Lilibet loves singing and dancing, while Archie enjoys construction.
MORE ON ARCHIE AND LILIBET
The Duchess usually celebrates Mother’s Day privately with her children, but in the past, she has helped to support charitable campaigns.
Her first Mother’s Day in 2019 fell just six days after she and Harry welcomed baby Archie.
On their now-inactive Instagram account, Sussex Royal, the couple shared a sweet snapshot of Archie’s tiny toes against a backdrop of forget-me-nots in their garden at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
The caption poignantly made reference to Harry’s late Diana, Princess of Wales, whose favourite flowers were forget-me-nots: “Paying tribute to all mothers today – past, present, mothers-to-be, and those lost but forever remembered. We honour and celebrate each and every one of you.”
In 2021, when Meghan was just weeks away from giving birth to her daughter Lilibet, it was confirmed that the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation was working with local organisation, Harvest Home L.A, to donate essential items to pregnant women and their children.
You may also likeWATCH: Archie and Lilibet’s cutest moments
The Duchess also penned a personal letter, writing: “As a mom, and an expectant mom, I deeply appreciate the significance of community support, safe and accessible pregnancy resources, and trusted guidance in a nurturing setting.
“These ingredients are essential to not just our physical health, but our mental well-being, and I commend you for leading a compassionate community that lives these values.”
And last year, Meghan supported a campaign from Alliance of Moms, which aims to raise awareness of “expectant and parenting foster youth” in Los Angeles.
The organisation was co-founded by one of Meghan’s closest friends, Kelly McKee Zajfen, who gushed about the Duchess “incredibly nurturing” nature in an Instagram post.
Kelly wrote: “As Mother’s Day approaches, I can’t help but think of my own #commUNITY of Motherhood. I instantly think of you Meg. How incredibly nurturing and warm and open you are. What an incredible friend and mother. I’m truly in awe of you and I am so grateful you are part of my #CommUNITYofmotherhood.”
She added: “You are always the first to say yes and support those you love. You are a fierce advocate for those who are in need. Thank you for joining this year’s campaign to support LA’s expectant and parenting foster youth, which helps provide critical services, education, resources and advocacy so they can build a better future for themselves and their families.”
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Battle of the brands? Meghan Markle‘s new American Riviera Orchard company may have an unlikely opponent in King Charles’ jam line. As it turns out, the monarch’s brand of fruit jams is already outselling the Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming product line, thanks to some dedicated royal followers.
Meghan announced her latest business venture, a new lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard, in March 2024. She made the announcement by launching an Instagram page for the brand, marking her return to social media over five years after closing her personal profiles upon marrying Prince Harry in 2018. While the initial launch provided limited information about the brand’s offerings, a trademark application filed for the American Riviera Orchard brand revealed that the brand plans to offer a variety of products, including cutlery, cookbooks, and jarred foods—evidently including a line of fruit jams and preserves.
In recent weeks, Meghan began soft-launching her products by gifting 50 jars of jams to her inner circle of celebrity friends, including her former Suits costar Abigail Spencer, fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Delfina Blaquier, the wife of Prince Harry’s friend Nacho Figueras, all of whom took to social media to gush about the upcoming product line. “This jam is my jam,” Spencer wrote via Instagram on April 21, 2024. “A delicious taste of what’s to come indeed. Love you so M.”
Though Meghan hasn’t announced when her jam will be publicly available, the interest generated by her soft launch seems to have caused a ripple effect, driving up demand for King Charles‘ jam, particularly his Organic Strawberry Preserve. Just days after Meghan’s inner circle began posting about her jam, the King’s jam began selling out in droves on his website.
King Charles jam is sold under the Highgrove brand (formerly known as Duchy Originals) which he started in 1990. The brand was established by Charles, then the Prince of Wales, to promote organic farming and support sustainable agricultural practices. It has since grown into a popular range of organic food products that includes jams, biscuits, beverages, and dairy, among other items.
The products are often sourced from Highgrove, King Charles’ own private estate in Gloucestershire. In 2010, the brand partnered with Waitrose, a British supermarket chain, to distribute its products more widely, and this partnership has helped raise significant funds for charity, with millions of pounds donated to the king’s charities over the years.
While profits from Highgrove sales go to charity, while Meghan’s venture is for-profit. Her American Riviera Orchard brand also seems to be inspired by her central Californian identity, which aligns with her and Prince Harry’s current base in Montecito, whereas King Charles’ jam is marketed as a “quintessentially English” product.
Many social media users have started drawing these comparisons for themselves, with some speculating that the unexpected boost in sales for Charles’ jam could be a result of consumers preparing to compare the taste of the two jams. Others, however, believe that royal followers simply don’t want to see Meghan win. “Wow it took Meghan selling jam for the King’s 30-year-old jam to sell out… That’s the Meghan effect,” one social media user wrote. Another questioned, “What will they do when Meghan Markle makes a full course meal? It’s just JAM!”
For now, we will need to wait a little longer for Meghan’s jam to hit the shelves before fans can decide how it measures up against the king’s popular preserve. May the best royal jam reign.
Still no movement on her Instagram but that doesn’t mean the former Duchess of Sussex hasn’t been busy. In fact, we just got all the details on Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard, her new business and lifestyle brand. It’s The Tig, reborn. And my word, she’s covering a lot of ground.
In a trademark application extension obtained by DailyMail.com, the Suits alumnus detailed her brand will sell household goods, stationery, bed linen, cookware, gardening implements, beverages, foods, and condiments, in addition to what appears to be a skin or body care range. “Fragrance sachets; Lavender Sachets; Non-medicated skin care preparations; Bath and shower gels and salts…non-mediated hair preparations; Bath soap; Bar soap: Non-medicated hand soaps: Body creams: Bath oil: Body lotions: Cosmetics [and] Body Oil.’
In addition to cosmetics, Markle will sell spices, seasonings, nut butters, jams, marmalades, and jellies, ‘edible oils and fats,’ and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame as well as tisanes, honey dippers, and bird feeders.
She’s also filed trademark applications for seeds, gardening trowels, shears, and weeding forks, garden tool gift sets, and a bag specially adapted for holding such gardening tools. Tote bags, leashes and collars for pets, wine-carrying cases, wine bags with handles for carrying or holding wine, pillows, furniture, and drawer organizers. It’s an exhaustive list, really.
Will it pay off? Brand expert Hayley Knight told the Daily Mail: “Meghan will certainly see success quickly once the store is launched. We have seen with previous celebrity launches, that the demand is incredibly high, and products sell quickly.” She added: “I can’t imagine Meghan will make less than six figures within the first few weeks of opening, if not in the first week if the company sells globally.”
Of course, Markle is no stranger to the world of lifestyle brand-building. From 2014 to 2017, she ran The Tig, where she offered advice, recipes, travel inspiration, reading lists—anything her heart desired. The site was shut down before her engagement to Prince Harry went public. She signed off the site with a farewell message:
“After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it’s time to say goodbye to The Tig. What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity. You’ve made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being “the change you wish to see in the world”.”
THE gulf between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the rest of the Royal Family seems to widen every week.
And it wasn’t helped yesterday by the Duchess of Sussex unveiling her new home, food, garden and lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard shortly before Prince William was due to speak at his late mother’s Legacy Award event in London.
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Prince William paid tribute to the winners of the Legacy Awards last nightCredit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala
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Meghan’s brand logo appeared online shortly before Wills’ speechCredit: Instgram/americanrivieraorchard
The move was slammed by slammed by royal experts as yet another attempt to steal the limelight, with one branding it “calculated” and another claiming it would have “saddened Diana.”
Meghan’s glitzy Instagram post showing off her new crest surfaced an hour before William delivered an emotional speech at the Diana Awards at London’s Science Museum, where Harry later appeared via video link.
Meghan and Harry also chose yesterday to announce the winner of their $100,000 (£78,500) NAACP – Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams slammed the timing, saying there was “nothing accidental” about them, adding: “The announcement of the new brand is totally consistent with the timing of all the Sussexes’ announcements.”
Here we take a look at all the times the couple have shamelessly stolen the royals’ thunder.
Spare bombshell interviews
Ahead of the publication of Prince Harry’s controversial memoir Spare, he sat down for long interviews with ITV’s Tom Bradby and Anderson Cooper, for US channel CBS, in January last year – the day before the Princess of Wales’ 41st birthday.
In a series of shocking accusations against his family, he claimed royals sought to protect their own reputation “to the detriment” of the Sussexes and that they were “complicit” in their “pain and suffering”.
He also detailed the alleged tense relationship between Kate and Meghan in the interviews.
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Prince Harry gave the bombshell interview on the eve of Kate’s birthdayCredit: ITV
Everything we know about Meghan’s new business
MEGHAN Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the Mail: “It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
“The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
“Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.”
As the interviews made global headlines, the official Royal Family’s social media channels posted a simple birthday wish for Kate, writing: “Wishing the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday.”
But the timing didn’t escape the attention of royal fans, with one tweeting: “I can’t believe Harry is doing this to Kate on the eve of her birthday…”
Meghan Markle is using Princess Diana’s legacy to promote her new business – it’s opportunism at its worst
Another wrote: “Prince Harry: I love Kate! Also Harry: I’m releasing this book on your birthday darling.”
Netflix trailer
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Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer dropped as William and Kate took on engagements in BostonCredit: Netflix
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William and Kate ignored the issue on their US tripCredit: Splash
Angela Levin told The Sun: “I think that the day seems chosen to ruin Kate and William’s trip – to take away everything from that.
“To pile it on. There was no need to do it that day. It was done deliberately to spoil their visit.”
‘Pregnancy announcement’ at wedding
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Meghan and Harry told family members they were expecting ArchieCredit: AFP
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Eugenie was not impressed by Meghan’s news on her big dayCredit: PA
Princess Eugenie walked down the aisle with Jack Brooksbank in October 2018, just months after Harry and Meghan tied the knot.
But when news of Meghan’s pregnancy broke days later, it was claimed the couple had upstaged the bride by breaking the happy news to the Queen, Prince Charles and the rest of the family at the wedding reception.
Pictures showed Harry speaking to the late Queen, fuelling speculation that this was the moment he broke the news.
A source later claimed the Queen already knew, but had not seen her grandson in person to congratulate him, and that the bride and groom had also been told in advance.
But it is thought that the royal get-together was the first time most of the family learned she was expecting their first child.
And in Finding Freedom, the sympathetic biography of the Sussexes, a source reveals Eugenie was “upset” by the couple going public on her big day.
The Princess “told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news”, the books claimed, adding that it “did not go down particularly well”.
Meghan’s career relaunch
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have been busy since stepping back as senior working royals.
Meghan has signed with American podcast network Lemonada Media to create new content, and her old 12-episode Archetypes episodes will also be distributed by the firm.
The couple still have their deal with Netflix, where they have created shows like their Harry & Meghan documentary, and the Duke of Sussex’s Heart of Invictus show.
And Meghan has enlisted Beverly Hills talent agency William Morris Endeavour ahead of her long-planned relaunch.
The cameo appearance sees the former Suits star doing multiple roles at coffee company Clevr Blends, including packing, working on the digital team, and on the operations team.
Bombshell Oprah interview
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Meghan and Harry’s bombshell Oprah interview contained sensational claimsCredit: AP
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It was broadcast on the day of the Queen’s Commonwealth addressCredit: Getty
The couple used the platform to make bombshell claims against the Royal Family, including a charge of racist comments made about the colour of son Archie’s skin, allegedly made by a senior royal before his birth.
Meghan also claimed she had been “silenced” by the Royal Family and left depressed, with suicidal thoughts, by her treatment.
But the decision to air on March 7, 2021, just hours after the Queen’s annual Commonwealth Day Speech aired on the BBC, was criticised in royal circles.
One expert claimed the clash could have been avoided had the Sussexes forewarned the Palace about the interview, calling the decision to grab the headlines on the day of the Queen’s speech “disrespectful”.
Harry’s job announcement
Harry, once extremely close to cousin Princess Eugenie, risked upsetting her again when he chose her birthday to make a job announcement.
Buckingham Palace released two pictures to celebrate Eugenie’s 31st birthday, on March 23 2021.
Just hours later The Wall Street Journal released news that the Duke – keen to show he could stand on his own two feet – had landed a high-paid job in Silicon Valley as “Chief Impact Officer” at health tech company Better Inc.
Prince Harry ‘pain’ podcast
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Kate and William visited various charities for Mental Health Awareness WeekCredit: Splash
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Harry talked about his ‘pain’ with Dax Shepherd on a podcast that same weekCredit: armchairexpertpod.com
In the pre-split days, when the brothers and their wives were known as the Fab Four, they were joint advocates for mental health awareness, appearing together at a Royal Foundation event on the issue.
But in May 2021, as Kate and William attended numerous charity events for Mental Health Awareness Week, Prince Harry dropped a devastating podcast talking about a “cycle of pain and suffering” – suggesting he was treated badly by his father because “that’s the way he was treated”.
“I don’t think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I’ve experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I’m going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on,” he said.
At the time, William – whose own tireless work for mental health charities was drowned out by Harry’s complaints – was said to be “very shocked” by his brother’s claims.
Book clash
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Meghan’s book was announced in May 2021Credit: Rex
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Kate’s book came out days laterCredit: PA
In the same month, Meghan was accused of “trying to upstage Kate” by announcing the release of her children’s book days before Kate’s photography album was released.
On May 4, 2021, Meghan announced she would be publishing The Bench, an illustrated story inspired by son Archie and husband Harry.
But some pointed out the announcement came just days before publication of a photography book that Kate had been working on for a year.
The book, Hold Still, captured life in the UK under lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
One furious Kate fan tweeted: “So now just as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has the HOLD STILL book about to be released on May 7, [Meghan] chooses to release a book she wrote in 2019. Connect the dots, people!”
Christmas card row
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This Christmas image revealed Lilibet for the first timeCredit: Alexi Lubomirski
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The Queen’s image was released the same dayCredit: Getty
Last Christmas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused a sensation when they shared the first glimpse of their daughter Lilibet and the first real look at son Archie’s face on their festive card.
But the post on social media came just hours before Buckingham Palace published an image of the Queen from her annual speech, ahead of its Christmas Day airing.
The much-anticipated speech was the first since the late monarch lost her beloved husband, Prince Philip, in April 2021.
The couple were accused of overshadowing the event, with Kate Garraway suggesting they were trying to “usurp” the Queen.
Queen’s birthday row
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Harry talked about the ‘pain’ of being a royal kidCredit: NBC
On the eve of the nation’s celebrations for the Queen’s 96th birthday, in April 2022, Harry once again angered the royal circle by giving a cringeworthy interview in which he claimed he was her protector.
In an interview with US news channel NBC, broadcast the night before her birthday, he said: “I’m just making sure that she’s protected and got the right people around her.”
Members of the royal household were said to be shocked and angered by the comments.
Angela Levin called for him to be banned from the Jubilee celebrations later that year, commenting: “Harry’s comment on US TV about him checking the Queen is protected is a gross insult to Prince Charles and William.”
Upstaging Dad
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The King’s first official family portrait excluded the coupleCredit: AP
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The new portrait was released days laterCredit: AFP
On October 1 2022, Buckingham Palace shared the first official snap of the recently ascended King Charles, the Queen Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the mourning period for the Queen came to an end.
Harry and Meghan, notably absent from the family scene despite being in the UK at the time it was taken, chose to make their own statement two days later, by releasing two new portraits of themselves at the One Young World conference in Manchester.
New Archie pics
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Meghan and mum Doria Ragland with ArchieCredit: Harris_Duchess/Twitter
In November 2022, a new image of rarely-seen Archie, sitting on Meghan’s knee during a Zoom chat, was released as Kate and William touched down in the US.
The image – which sent fans into frenzy over the unrecognisable toddler – was released by Professor Duchess Harris.
Royal fans suggested the timing was a deliberate attempt to divert from the Wales’ Earthshot mission.
One tweeted: “Notice Rachel Markle [Meghan’s birth name] puts this out to try and distract from Prince William and princesses of Wales!”
Markle sparkle: Duchess’ business ventures from wellness blog The Tig to kids’ book The Bench
ALONG with her well-known acting career Meghan Markle has also carved out something of a career in the business world as well.
Before getting engaged to Prince Harry, the Suits actress had her lifestyle blog The Tig but this was closed down when she got engaged in 2017.
The Tig, named after her favourite wine Tignanello, was seen as something as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow‘s £200million Goop, which offers similar wellness and “conscious living” content.
She previously described it as a “passion project” which “evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity”.
Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have produced a podcast, Netflix documentary and memoir, as well as several high-profile interviews between them.
Speaking in docuseries Harry & Meghan, the mum-of-two said of the blog: “It wasn’t just a hobby, it became a really successful business.
“I’ve never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that’s how my website was born.
“There was fashion, tons of food, and travel – all the things that I loved.”
Rumours emerged in March last year that Meghan was going to relaunch the blog.
Meghan also ventured into the world of children’s books with the launch of The Bench in June 2021.
Inside Meghan’s 34-page book The Bench, the illustrations give a fresh glimpse into the Sussexes’ “authentic” life at their LA home – featuring their then newborn daughter.
The publication was a commerical success with it becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon’s chart.
Meghan dedicated her book to the “man and boy who make my heart go pump-pump” in a sweet note for her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
The mum was “inspired” to write the book after originally creating a poem for Harry’s first Father’s Day.
The royal couple have also been reported to be planning an Oprah-style media empire after registering a series of new entertainment businesses.
They appear to have names which are meaningful to the couple, with one – Cloverdale Inc – bearing the same name as the street that the Duchess lived on with her mother in Los Angeles when she was young.
Both Cloverdale and a second company, Riversoul Productions Inc, are set up explicitly in the “entertainment” industry, and join companies Hampshire LLC, Bridgemont LLC and IPHW LLC.
The couple are already using name Archewell Productions for their Netflix and Spotify deals.
