Royal experts claim that Meghan is attempting to ‘rebrand’ as an influencer

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has “reinvented her image” as a homemaker and lifestyle influencer, according to royal experts. It’s a shift that some claim marks a departure from her once-prominent feminist identity.

In the Channel 5 documentary Meghan: Duchess For Sale?, which aired July 6, commentators explored the duchess’s latest business ventures, including her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her new lifestyle brand As Ever, formerly known as American Riviera Orchard.
Royal experts have claimed that Meghan Markle is attempting to ‘rebrand’ as a lifestyle influencer (Credit: SplashNews)

Meghan Markle ‘rebrands’ as lifestyle influencer

“She went from being the feminist who got angry that women were depicted as only being in the kitchen. Then she reinvented herself as the traditional, at-home, in-the-kitchen cooking and hosting kind of image,” said Jack Royston, royal correspondent for Newsweek.

“That was her big rebrand.”

Brand expert Nick Ede added: “With Love, Meghan is Meghan being the new Martha Stewart. She loves home. She loves entertaining, and she wants to show people how to elevate everyday situations.”

Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan advocated for gender equality.

During a 2015 speech at a UN Women event, the former actress declared: “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.” At the time, she emphasised empowering women to be more than just homemakers and to take up space as leaders.

But now, nearly a decade later, Meghan’s reemergence has been defined by jam jars, curated dinner parties, and floral-themed gift baskets.

Her new series, With Love, Meghan, garnered more than 2.6 million views in its first week and is part of the couple’s reported $100 million, five-year deal with Netflix. The show offers recipes and lifestyle tips.

The Duchess of Sussex ran a lifestyle blog before she began dating Prince Harry (Credit: SplashNews)

‘Meghan is struggling to be an influencer’

Meanwhile, Meghan has been accused of leveraging her royal title for branding purposes. This is despite an agreement made after she and Harry stepped back as senior working royals in 2020.

Under that deal, the couple were to refrain from using their HRH styles for commercial activities.

But in a recent podcast appearance, entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima revealed Meghan had sent her a food hamper with a handwritten note signed “HRH The Duchess of Sussex.” The basket included Meghan’s signature jam, Straus ice cream, mint, and flowers.

Despite the backlash, Meghan’s branding success is undeniable.

Her lifestyle products, including jam, honey, and teas, have created buzz, and every launch has sold out within an hour.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams was more pointed in his criticism. “Meghan is struggling to be an influencer. Sophie [Duchess of Edinburgh] has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been,” he said.

“While Meghan sends pots of jam to celebrities, it is the Duchess of Edinburgh who meets survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and displaced women in a landmark visit to Ukraine.”

Critics have accused Meghan of failing to use her influence in a meaningful way (Credit: SplashNews)

The Tig

But for longtime followers of Meghan’s career, this evolution is nothing new.

In 2014, she launched The Tig, a lifestyle blog that showcased her love for beauty, travel, food, and wellness.

“‘The Tig was very similar to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop,” said Nick. “She actually saw that you could monetise it.”

Meghan eventually shut down The Tig in 2017 after beginning her relationship with Prince Harry.

But now, with the launch of As Ever and a renewed focus on personal branding, many believe she’s simply returned to her roots, this time, with a duchess title.