Meghan Markle has been pressing ahead with her As Ever lifestyle brand while building her Instagram following – but one expert has a stark warning for her

Meghan Markle is pressing ahead with her As Ever brand(Image: PA)

Meghan Markle has left the Royal Family firmly behind her as she builds her business empire. Five years after she and Prince Harry dramatically quit as working royals, she is now growing her As Ever lifestyle brand as well as her Instagram following with a string of never-before-seen snaps and videos.

But despite the days of royal duties being long gone, Meghan does continue to use one thing from her former life – her royal title, the Duchess of Sussex. Not only that, she recently raised eyebrows when it emerged she had also used her HRH title on a note in a gift basket to a friend. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, Meghan has appeared to become a shrewd operator as she ploughs forward with her business, which will no doubt help to fund the Sussexes’ enviable lifestyle.

Meghan still retains her Duchess of Sussex title (Image: Getty Images for TIME)

But writing in The Sun, the former BBC royal correspondent says it’s now time for her to stop using her royal title in her money-making ventures.

She explained: “To try to cling to the vestiges of her blink-of-an-eye time as a working royal is disingenuous. So, Meghan, how about dropping the Duchess nonsense and the HRH which you are no longer entitled to use? Be independent and successful.

“Make your As Ever brand bigger than ever on your own. You tried being part of the Royal Family and hated it. Time to move on, which, I think, is what this is all about.”

It comes as Meghan as made a huge U-turn in a new announcement about restocking her As Ever products, including her jam. In an Instagram post last week, she promised that her goods would be back in stock later this month and teased other new items, saying there would be “a few new things we can’t wait to show you”.

Meghan has launched a lifestyle brand called As Ever (Image: JENNA PEFFLEY/NETFLIX)

The about-turn came just hours after she was heard telling Beyoncé’s mother that she had decided to “just pause” until she was completely ready.

Meghan appeared on her own podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, yesterday, recorded in May, telling Tina Knowles she feared annoying customers when the first batch of her jam and herbal teas sold out in less than an hour.

She said she wanted to wait until it was “completely stable and we have everything we need”. However, just hours later, Meghan shared a photo of jam-making preparations including bowls of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, and freshly squeezed lemons, on her Instagram stories, writing: “June gloom?’ Not over here! Because this month your favourite products are back.”

Her official As Ever account also posted: “To all who’ve been wondering and waiting, thank you. Your favourites are returning, plus a few NEW things we can’t wait to show you. Coming this month…get excited!”

Meghan’s range includes flower sprinkles, which she used liberally during her Netflix lifestyle show, and raspberry spread, a crepe mix, wildflower honey and an assortment of herbal teas. She renamed her brand from American Riviera Orchard after running into trademark issues.