The launch of Meghan Markle’s jam brand has had the unintended side effect of boosting sales of the King’s own preserves brand.
The Duchess of Sussex debuted the first product from her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, and friends and influencers posted photos on Instagram of a jar of her strawberry jam.
It is the first part of his attempts to launch his business empire and may have been partly inspired by his father-in-law, King Charles III.
Her Majesty began selling produce such as jams from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s and has continued to sell produce from the gardens of her own private home in Highgrove.
And with renewed publicity about the Duchess of Sussex’s preserves, Charles’s own brand appears to have seen a surge in sales from royalists, who have done so in such large quantities that one item sold out.
Sales of King Charles’ Highgrove preserves brand may have increased due to the announcement of his daughter-in-law’s business. Pictured: The King attending the Easter Mattins service at Windsor Castle.
Stockpiles of King’s Highgrove organic strawberries were shown to be temporarily out of stock on Wednesday.
Meghan Markle introduced the first product from her American Riviera Orchard brand in strawberry jam jars. Pictured: The Duchess of Sussex at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington on April 12.
Meghan has sent samples of the jam to her friends and influencers. Pictured: Showing off strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins said: “Thank you, M!”
The monarch’s Highgrove organic strawberry stash was listed as “sold out” on the estate’s website on Wednesday, hours after the launch of Meghan’s own brand of strawberry jam.
There is good news for those eager to try it, however, as more 340g jars of the flavor went on sale for £6.95 each on the Highgrove Gardens website on Thursday morning.
Other flavors sold by the brand include marmalade, rhubarb and ginger, raspberry and blackberry, and English plum.
While profits from Meghan’s business endeavors go to herself, any excess money made as part of the Highgrove brand is donated to charity.
On the Highgrove Gardens website, strawberry preserve is described as bringing “the taste of summer to your plate” and being “quintessentially English”.
“A delicious combination of plump, ripe strawberries and zesty lemon, it’s perfect paired with cream or butter on warm scones or as a filling for a classic Victoria sponge,” she adds.
‘Carefully hand-cooked in small batches to an original Highgrove recipe, Strawberry Jam is bursting with fruity flavours.
‘Traditionally packaged, the glass jar label features a specially commissioned wood engraved design that captures the natural beauty of Highgrove Gardens.’
Royal fans apparently can’t get enough of the products, with one writing on the X: “Back in stock.” I just ordered some treats…including jam…for Father’s Day.
Another added that it was “absolutely fantastic”, writing: “Just decided to buy these myself.” They have an online store.’
Meghan Markle’s new strawberry jam looks similar to the product from her father-in-law’s brand, and influencers and friends shared photos of the product online on Wednesday.
The duchess sent 50 jars of the preserve to people like fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier, who quickly posted it on their Instagram Stories.
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.”
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
The brand’s logo is written in fine gold letters above the word ‘Montecito’, where Meghan lives.
Mrs Robbins and her husband, Paramount boss Brian Robbins, are friends of the Sussexes and invited them to the premiere of the Bob Marley film in Jamaica in January.
The couple are also friends with Balquier, who is married to Prince Harry’s friend Nacho Figueras, and the four were together at a charity polo match in Florida last Friday.
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.
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.”
Charles and Camilla try jams and pickles while visiting the University of Chester in July 2007.
Charles and Camilla look at products in a Waitrose store in Belgravia, London, in 2009. Jam was added to the Duchy range in 2010, when the supermarket acquired the exclusive licence.
William and Charles at Home Farm, Highgrove. Charles founded Waitrose Duchy Organic with his first product in 1992, a biscuit made from wheat and oats grown organically on this farm.
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.
By comparison, King Charles began selling products from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s, and jam was added to the range in 2010, when Waitrose acquired the exclusive licence.
Prince William took over ownership of the Duchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the Duchy’s organic strawberry jam is now sold in Waitrose stores for £2.80 a jar.
A portion of sales are donated to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, and Waitrose Duchy Organic has generated over £40 million for this since 2009.
Waitrose Duchy Organic was founded by Charles with its first product in 1992, a biscuit made from organically grown wheat and oats at Home Farm in Highgrove in Gloucestershire.
The Duchy Organics range is now the UK’s largest own organic food and drink brand and includes over 300 products including fruit, vegetables, meat and beer.
El Rey continues to sell products through his personal brand Highrove.