Meghan Markle's business struggles as she launches new lifestyle brand on Instagram

On New Year's Day, Meghan Markle symbolically drew a line in the sand, seemingly looking forward to the future after a challenging period for her entrepreneurial ventures.

Returning to Instagram under the straightforward username 'meghan', the Duchess of Sussex posted a video reel of herself running along a beach, then inscribing '2025' in the wet sand and laughing.

This appears to signify a new beginning for 43-year-old Meghan, who has been forging an independent path recently, in what has been previously described as a "professional split" from her husband, Prince Harry. The former actress has immersed herself in several exciting business projects since leaving the palace, but has unfortunately faced some obstacles.

Wait for lifestyle brand

In March 2024, fans were thrilled when Meghan unveiled her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, launching both an Instagram account and a website for the brand, which will concentrate on home, garden, food, and lifestyle products, including cutlery, recipe books, tablecloths, napkins, jams and other kitchenware.

However, while the brand has distributed a limited amount of jam to influencers, a full-scale launch has yet to occur, with the project plagued by unfortunate delays.

Royal author and expert Tom Quinn has previously suggested that Meghan is finding it difficult to hire staff for her eagerly anticipated brand due to her "tough outlook" and "absolute self-belief".

In an exclusive chat with the Mirror, he revealed: "The result of Meghan's tough outlook is that she is having difficulties finding staff for her new brand - she wants them to be full of ideas of their own, but also totally compliant to her wishes."

"Meghan has absolute self-belief...But to make her brand a success she needs to take and accept advice and allow staff who know far more about these things to make some of the decisions. This is really difficult for Meghan as she is not a natural delegator."

The official launch date for American Riviera Orchard remains under wraps, with the website currently only displaying its logo and offering a waitlist sign-up, showing little recent activity. Nonetheless, the Duchess has already shared her branded strawberry jam with 50 influencers and celebrities, including Kris Jenner.

The Mirror previously sought comments from the Sussexes' representatives.

Royal commentator Emily Andrews spoke to Grazia magazine about Meghan's upcoming brand, suggesting it will present the former actress as a "beacon of inspiration, aspiration and attainability."

Emily detailed: "Her style will be marketed as 'affordable elegance', focusing on her image as a family woman with regal poise, while encouraging customers to find their inner grace and 'elevate the every day'."

Trademark issues

Meghan Markle encountered further obstacles on her trademark journey with American Riviera Orchard when her application was rejected back in September. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued her with a "nonfinal officer action" and provided a three-month period to respond, cautioning that a lack of reply could lead to abandonment of her claim.

The challenges did not cease there; in October, Meghan faced opposition as a trademark protest was lodged with the USPTO by owners of the 'Royal Riviera' brand, currently held by the US food and gift company Harry and David, famous for their 'Royal Riviera Pears'. A letter of protest reviewed by The Mirror raised concerns over potential confusion, entrusting the matter to USPTO examining attorney Marco Wright.

Originally filed on February 2, the application for the American Riviera Orchard trademark revealed intentions to market kitchenware, drinkware, and jams under the name. The filing was made by Mama Knows Best, LLC, which has submitted two more related applications and shares its registered Beverly Hills address with Harry and Meghan's Archewell Organisation.

A US source previously informed the Mirror: "The process for acquiring a trademark is extremely rigorous. It would be a surprise if Meghan had not received one before in trying to get her application through. She is still very much committed to her brand and has three months to respond. There is no way this will lead to abandonment."

Polo show slammed

Last month, criticism was levelled at Meghan's forthcoming cooking show which "may not see the light of day" following the underwhelming response to her and Harry's Polo docuseries. In April 2024, it was revealed that Meghan and Harry were set to produce two Netflix projects, one centred on Polo and another designed to "celebrate the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship".

The Polo series, released on December 10, aimed to reveal the "grit behind the glamour", tracking top-tier players both on and off the field during the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. Although Harry and Meghan served as executive producers, their on-screen presence was minimal, and the five-part documentary failed to break into the top 10 in either the UK or the US.

Following the release of the trailer, Harry made a statement saying: "This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world's elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour. We're proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport - and the intensity of its high-stakes moments."

However, the show 'Polo' has been met with less than favourable reviews, currently sitting at a dismal 25 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have not held back in their assessments, with The Guardian's Stuart Heritage calling the series "unintentionally hilarious" and suggesting it "feels like a spoof documentary designed to play on screens in the background of episodes of Succession".

James Jackson from The Times also described it as a "tedious and utterly unrelatable watch."

A source speaking to Closer mentioned that Harry and Meghan had limited creative influence over the project, stating: "Truth is, it was pretty much out of their control. The bosses wanted the series to appeal to the masses and pushed this reality TV slant so it's not entirely their fault."

With the Sussexes's £80million ($100million) Netflix deal set to expire in Autumn 2025, there are whispers among Hollywood executives, as reported by the Mail, that any subsequent deals may not be as lucrative given the sparse output thus far.

The Sussexes have already produced four series for Netflix, including the much-talked-about 'Polo', and their revealing 2022 documentary 'Harry and Meghan'. They've also brought to screens 'Heart of Invictus', showcasing Prince Harry's sporting event for wounded veterans, and 'Live to Lead', profiling global leaders striving to make a positive impact.

Meghan's cooking show completed filming last summer, with its title and premiere date still under wraps. However, insiders hint at a potential release in the first quarter of 2025, possibly around late February or March.

Despite this, a Netflix source told the Mail that the programme "may not see the light of day" following the lukewarm reception of 'Polo'. Others suggest that the success of this culinary series could be crucial for the Sussexes' future with Netflix.

One insider stated: "There won't be another deal. There may be one-offs, but that's it."

Meanwhile, a California source commented: "It's make or break. People say Netflix are exhausted."

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