Meghan Markle’s close model friend received the Duchess’ American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, 44, co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a nonprofit that supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system, took to Instagram to share a snapshot of the looking product. rustic.
The 44-year-old revealed she was “so proud” of Meghan, who launched the first product from her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.
Sharing a snap of the jam presented in a lemon bowl surrounded by flowers, she wrote: ‘Ohhhhh Just a taste of what’s to come!!! I’m so proud of you M @americanrivieraorchard.’
The Duchess of Sussex sent friends the limited-edition bottle ahead of her brand’s formal launch later this spring with a range of items.
Meghan Markle’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen received the Duchess’ American Riviera Orchard Strawberry Jam.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier posted on Instagram yesterday saying they each received one of the jars, which public relations expert Nick Ede said looked “very homemade with a fancy crest and the name of the brand almost handwritten”.
Meghan has supported Kelly through her grief over the loss of her son George, who died aged just nine in July 2022 after being found unconscious in their family home.
A close friend of the Zajfen family revealed to DailyMail.com that Kelly’s son George had been found “unresponsive” at their family home and that his death had come as a complete shock to his loved ones and parents.
Kelly, who is also mother to George’s twin sister Lily, has been open about her grief on Instagram, writing in October last year that she was “not really okay”, while telling her followers: “The light all the days is tenuous.” I do the best I can. We are all doing our best. I’m so devastated.
“I’m looking every day for a new way to put the pieces back together and I’m fully aware that they may not all fit together again.”
Last year, he posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on his account, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and praising her for being such an “incredible friend and mother.”
‘You are always the first to say yes and support your loved ones. “You are a strong advocate for those in need,” Kelly continued, as she shared an image of herself and the Duchess of Sussex, both wearing ‘Community Motherhood’ t-shirts in support of a Moms’ Alliance campaign.
Harry and Meghan donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser in the name of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after the Zajfen family lost George.
Kelly, 44, co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a nonprofit that supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system, took to Instagram to share a snapshot of the rustic-looking product.
Last year, Kelly posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her account, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and praising her for being such an “incredible friend and mother.”
In March, Meghan enjoyed a ski trip with Kelly and another close friend, Heather Dorak.
The duchess was photographed smiling with pilates business owner Dorak and Zajfen on the slopes of Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City in Utah, in an Instagram post shared by the Pilates Platinum founder.
The trio have long been “best friends”, and Meghan first met Heather in 2005, when the pilates and yoga instructor became the former actress during her time on US legal drama Suits.
Meanwhile, Kelly and Meghan became close through the duchess’s ex-husband, Engelson, who is a friend of the former model’s entertainment lawyer husband, Julian.
Heather attended Meghan and Harry’s wedding in Windsor in May 2018 with her husband Matt Cohen.
Meghan’s product launch comes amid a trend of celebrities switching up their own food products: Julianne Moore, Will Ferrell and LeBron James are among those selling honey from their own gardens through the Flamingo Estate brand for up to $250 (£200) per jar.
Meghan may have been inspired by her father-in-law, King Charles III, who began selling products such as jams on the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.
Kelly’s nine-year-old son George passed away after being found “unconscious” in his family’s home in 2022.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a photo of the jam, which had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath. The label also had the words “17 of 50.”
Showing off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: “Thank you, M!”
Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy’
Delfina Balquier’s video also showed strawberry jam spread on a piece of bread
Prince William took over ownership of the Duchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and Duchy Organic Strawberry Jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 per jar; sales of the entire range helped raise £30 million for the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund.
Mrs Robbins posted a photo of Meghan’s jam, which had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath, the celebrity enclave in California where Harry and Meghan live in a £12million home. The label also had the words “17 of 50.”
The photo on Ms Robbins’ Instagram Stories showed the jam in her hand and said: “@AmericanRivieraOrchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.”
Showing it off in a basket with lemons, Mrs Robbins added: ‘Thank you for the delicious basket! I love this jam so I’m not sure I’d share it with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thanks, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.’
Balquier posted a similar image on his Stories and said: “Strawberry jam makes me happy.” And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard.’ The label on it said: “10 out of 50.”
The post also showed some of the jam spread on a piece of bread.
Delfina Blaquier with her husband Nacho Figueras alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale in Wellington, Florida, last Friday
Meghan’s fans were very excited about the launch, with one tweeting: “I don’t eat jam much, but for you Meg, I’ll buy you some.” In fact, my husband and children will eat them in my name.
Another added: ‘I remember learning how to make jam in cooking class, so much fun and everything so delicious! I just know that Meghan loves this new era with ARO, with the support of her incredible friends like Delfina.”
And a third said: “It’s all in the details, the ARO logo embroidered on the jam cover is exquisite.”
The duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, and a source told People magazine last week: ‘Meghan thinks the name American Riviera Orchard is perfect. It feels authentic to her.
‘Can’t wait for the website to launch. She is excited about her latest personal endeavor. This is something she has wanted to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and the things she loves.”
It comes after the Duchess launched her new business venture on March 14 with a teaser on Instagram.
A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging hydrangeas and white roses was posted on American Riviera Orchard’s new Instagram account.
The short video was set to Nancy Wilson’s I Wish You Love and closes with the brand’s logo written in fine gold script above the word ‘Montecito’.
Limited information has been released about American Riviera Orchard, but a trademark application on Feb. 2 of this year showed the company wants to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, table linens, textiles, and preserves and jams, according to the Office of United States Patents and Trademarks. website.
The account had 100,000 followers just three hours after its first post, a figure that now stands at 592,000.
Meghan has not had an Instagram account since the Sussexes stepped away from royal life four years ago.
They previously had a joint account @sussexroyal, but announced that they would stop posting in March 2020.