The Duchess of Sussex’s new American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand has been hijacked by what appears to be a fan of Princess Kate.
While the US web link takes you to the duchess’s website for her business, the UK domain name was purchased by someone who linked it to a food bank and sent a message saying “thoughts with Catherine”.
Fans who click on the ‘americanriveriaorchard.uk’ link will be redirected to a page asking for donations for the UK-based charity and will discover a very direct message.
While the home page says ‘Sorry. Permission. Please make a donation to the Trussell Trust. Clicking this will lead to a Just Giving fundraiser for the Trussell Trust charity.
‘No Meghan. I hope Meghan doesn’t mind. Thoughts with catherine
Did you buy the domain name? Email eirian.prosser@dailymail.co.uk
However, those who visit the site ending in ‘americanriveriaorchard.uk’ will be met with a Just Giving page for the Trussell Trust.
The story on the Just Giving page has a cryptic message that reads: ‘Not Meghan. I hope Meghan doesn’t mind. Thoughts with Catherine x’
The UK domain name has been purchased for Meghan Markle’s new business, American Riviera Orchard. Pictured: Kate and Meghan during Wimbledon in 2018.
Those who want to visit his new website ‘americanriveria.com’ will be taken to a flash page asking his fans to join a waiting list.
The message of support for the Princess of Wales comes after she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last month and was undergoing chemotherapy.
As soon as users open the website, they are met with the cryptic words “sorry” and “permission” before encouraging people to “please donate to the Trussell Trust”.
It seems unlikely that the domain was purchased by Meghan’s representatives and those who have donated suggest that a good Samaritan was responsible for purchasing the domain.
The Trussell Trust confirmed to MailOnline that it did not create the website and was unaware of the donation site.
Sophie Carré, Director of Public Engagement at the Trussell Trust, said: ‘The Trussell Trust is grateful to the people who give their time and energy to supporting our work to end the need for food banks in the UK.
The charity is not connected to the domain of this website and has no knowledge of who created it.
The fake page has so far raised £56 of its £1,000 target and one US-based donor wrote: “I’m happy to be able to support from across the pond and glad to hear about this organization through from the link on the American Riviera Orchards website. .’
Another added: “Really good way to draw attention to the great work they do.”
The duchess (pictured last week) launched the first product from her new lifestyle brand this week, sending influencers and friends a jar of jam, including her comedian friend Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis.
The couple’s launch of Meghan’s new business, American Rivera Orchard, came in March on the fourth anniversary of their move to California.
American Riviera Orchard launch video begins with a video of a woman arranging flowers
The video continues with an image of a woman in a long dress, backlit in a hallway.
MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes’ representatives.
Earlier this week, Meghan sent 50 jars of jam to a very exclusive group of people.
Parenting activist Kelly McKee Zajfen, Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier and stylist Tracy Robbins are among those who took to Instagram to share the new product.
Meghan’s jam had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath, the celebrity enclave in California where she lives with Harry in a £12million mansion.
The price list of the new products has not yet been revealed, although it is expected to be a luxury brand. It is registered to sell lifestyle products, from recipe books to table linen and textiles and, of course, jams and jams.
The duchesses’ business venture was revealed in a stunning social media video last month, and the new venture will coincide with a new Netflix cooking show in which she will take part.
Insiders told the Mail that the business was going to be a “lifestyle and cooking brand” that would focus on the things Meghan appreciates.
Another added: “It’s a cooking and lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard.” The brand will coincide with the launch of a new cooking show for Netflix.
Prince Harry and Meghan kiss at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida on Friday
Showing off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: “Thank you, M!”
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.”
‘Meghan will make and sell products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and a blog, etc.’
The new brand will be an extension of his former lifestyle blog The Tig, a source told US’s Page Six, adding: “He’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all things that are close to your heart”.
It’s fitting that the Duchess’s venture includes cooking and food, something she has shown a passion for in the past.
In 2018, while living in the UK as a royal, Meghan joined survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire when she joined a community kitchen in the area and was not shy about pitching in to help prepare meals.
The publicity material has made no attempt to hide Meghan’s royal ties or the clearly commercial nature of her brand, and her Instagram profile includes the caption “by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.”
Meghan’s biographer Tom Bower previously said the move goes against the Sussexes’ promise to the former queen not to exchange their royal connections after the so-called ‘Sandringham Summit’ in 2022.
He told MailOnline: ‘Meghan and Harry promised they would not use their titles as commercial vehicles and they have broken that agreement. The only solution is for the King to strip the Sussexes of their titles. I hope you find resilience.”