Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard brand name used by copycat website to sell £8 anti-monarchy colouring books
A COPYCAT website using Meghan Markle’s business name is selling tongue in cheek colouring books for as little as £8.
The seemingly satirical “American Riviera Orchard” site lists a selection of books with one labelled “working class royalty”.
It has a blog section which reads: “Why Americans reject and don’t care about Royal Titles like Prince, Princess, Duchess”.
The post goes on to say “In America, we believe ALL are created EQUAL. A royal title therefore has no significance.”
Despite sharing a name, the two brands are not linked.
Different books listed on the site range from £8 to £16 and are listed alongside bizarre posters about student loans and the American Dream.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, revealed her lifestyle brand in April, delivering beautifully-packed gift baskets to friends and influencers before the launch.
Hinting at the types of products she would be selling, the Duchess sent out 50 limited edition jars of jam.
Her trademark business application said the brand would sell edible and non-perishable products.
She later unveiled the website and Instagram bearing the American Riviera Orchard logo.
Meghan could face other challenges beyond the strange copycat attempt as she launches her business, a brand expert has said.
Professor Pauline Maclaran, marketing and consumer research professor at Royal Holloway University, told the BBC that Meghan is positioning herself to be the next Nigella Lawson or Martha Stewart.
One issue Meghan could face is that although she previously shared recipes on her now-defunct blog The Tig, she isn’t necessarily known for her cooking and doesn’t have any formal training as a chef.
And royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “Meghan has no track record of being a top cook so she’d struggle to be a Californian Nigella Lawson.
“There is a danger you can spread yourself too much doing several things, none of them well. Meghan is known as an actress so people might not take her seriously in the kitchen.
“To be fair she wouldn’t be the first celebrity who has decided to cash in on culinary shows for the masses despite not having much experience.”
Meghan is soon set to fully debut the lifestyle brand, months after sending out the jam packages to friends.
She shared a clip in March to Instagram that showed her arranging flowers and baking in her California home.
The grainy, vintage style clip aligned with reports from insiders that she would likely be selling home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
The footage also featured the brand’s logo drawn in a script-like font that resembles a wedding invitation.
