She had hoped to become the queen of the kitchen with the help of some elegant jam jars.
But the Duchess of Sussex’s domestic dream has been put on hold after her soon-to-launch lifestyle brand suffered a trademark setback.
Meghan has sought to trademark the name of her service, American Riviera Orchard, for international use ahead of a full-scale launch next year.
But records show that in July, about four months after applying for registration, there were a number of “irregularities” that needed to be “corrected.”
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has notified the Sussexes’ lawyers of several issues, including the misclassification of yoga blankets, picnic baskets and recipe books.
And the agency said fees must be paid to various bodies around the world to register the trademark, totalling $11,382 (almost £9,000).
Netflix, which has just finished filming a cooking show with the Duchess, is believed to be handling the commercial exploitation of the brand, so it would be safe to assume it will foot the bill.
A spokesperson for the streaming giant declined to comment on the deal with her this week. Representatives for the Sussexes have been contacted for comment.
The Duchess of Sussex has suffered a trademark setback with her new venture American Riviera Orchard. Pictured: Meghan Markle visits the Hubb community kitchen in London in 2018
Meghan has sought to trademark the name of her service, American Riviera Orchard, for international use ahead of a full-scale launch next year.
The Duchess of Sussex signalled her intention to move into the world of lifestyle at the beginning of March. Pictured: Meghan Markle speaking on stage at the Archewell Foundation Parents Summit
The Duchess of Sussex signaled her intention to enter the lifestyle world in early March by creating an Instagram page that featured nine images revealing the brand’s name. It also featured a gold logo, a faux heraldic “ARO” symbol and the word “Montecito” — the place she and Prince Harry moved to after stepping down as working royals.
A video was also posted showing a woman’s hands arranging white and pink flowers. It then faded to reveal Meghan in a kitchen, whisking something in a bowl.
A source close to the show told US entertainment website Page Six that the brand would focus on “things that are close to her heart” and would be an extension of her former lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Meghan has sent products such as jam and dog biscuits to some friends, but plans are now afoot to start with a rosé wine.
A source with knowledge of the launch said the plan is to sell Meghan as a beacon of inspiration, aspiration and attainability.
American model and television personality Chrissy Teigen poses with a jar of Meghan Markle’s jam
Meghan has sent products such as jam and dog biscuits to some friends, but plans are now afoot to start with a rosé wine. Pictured: Meghan Markle chats to people inside the Drawing Room during a visit to Cardiff Castle
The Duchess of Sussex during her visit to Hubb Community Kitchen in London to see how funds raised by Together: Our Community Cookbook are making a difference
Posting on social media, someone spreads American Riviera Orchard jam on their toast
The launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand is a decision that has been in the making for at least 18 months. Pictured: Meghan and Harry attend the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in aid of Sentebale
Her style will be sold as elegant and affordable, and her image will focus on her status as a family-friendly and “regal” figure.
Customers will be encouraged to embrace their innate elegance and “elevate everyday life.” The brand will also offer drinkware, serving ware, bar essentials and other hospitality and entertaining related products.
The launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand is a move that has been in the works for at least 18 months. It can be revealed that the prospect has excited Netflix, which signed a deal with the Sussexes in 2020. Their first documentary Harry & Meghan, due for release in December 2022, was a global hit.
Next came the Heart of Invictus documentary about Harry’s Invictus Games event in August 2023. However, at this point, sources were calling the “$100 million deal” with Netflix “a failure” due to lack of production and apparent lack of ideas.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex rides around The Mall in a horse-drawn carriage during Trooping The Colour 2018
Harry and Meghan bought the rights to a romance novel Meet Me At The Lake in August last year, although it is not known when a film adaptation will be released.
Meghan has previously spoken of her love of food and launched a charity cookbook with Hubb Community Kitchen in 2018 (pictured) to help families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Meghan helps prepare food during her visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in 2018
The couple bought the rights to a romance novel Meet Me At The Lake in August last year, although it is not known when the film adaptation will be released.
Netflix has accelerated plans for American Riviera Orchard, taking on all executive roles and striking deals with wholesalers, designers, producers and retailers. It will take around eight months to review trademark applications and up to 14 months to register them.
This means that by May next year, she should be all set with the brand and the cooking show she has filmed to go with it.
Netflix sources say the show, which is still untitled, won’t be ready to stream for months as it needs to be edited and then subtitled for release worldwide.
Meghan has previously spoken of her love of food and in 2018 launched a charity cookbook with Hubb Community Kitchen to help families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
In the book’s foreword, she wrote: “I immediately felt connected to this community kitchen; it is a place where women can laugh, cry and cook together.”
