Exclusive: Meghan Markle 'Deliberately Launched' Lifestyle Brand on the 'Same Day as the Diana Legacy Awards'
Princes William and Harry both spoke at the 25th Annual Diana Awards on March 14, albeit with the Prince of Wales at the venue and Harry via video. Little did either of the late Diana, Princess of Wales's sons, realize that a family member was planning to sabotage their important moments.
"Meghan's lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard was deliberately launched on the same day as the Diana Legacy Awards," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams exclusively tells The Royal Observer.
"However, I strongly doubt that it will affect the Sussexes' relations with the royal family," he adds.
Although numerous other royal analysts also agreed it was planned on Meghan's part, some believe Harry was also in on the decision as well.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex both released videos before and during Prince William's in-person tribute to his late mother at the ceremony. Shortly before the prizes were handed out, the Duchess of Sussex launched American Riviera Orchard on Instagram.
This was followed by the Duke of Sussex, with Meghan, dropping a video announcing the winner of their $100,000 NAACP — Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award, which timed with the Prince of Wales's speech.
"Bad timing," royal expert Pandora Forsyth dished. "I thought that as soon as it happened last night, I thought surely this would be an event on both of their calendars."
She added: "Let's say that they don't talk, and they don't share calendars anymore because they're not two separate royal households, I would have thought that the Diana Awards and the Diana Legacy Award last night would have just been something that would have been crossed over."
Fitzwilliams' exclusive insight comes amid reports that suggest the two brothers have not spoken a single word to one another since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022. Both have been said to be mired down in a feud with one another for over four years.
"I'm really, really surprised at this because Harry was also involved in it and has been involved with it for many years," Forsyth added. "I mean, it was only a few years ago, he was up on stage with his brother William. I mean, how times have changed. But yeah, really bizarre timing. We know that she was going to be launching a lifestyle brand in terms of what it might have been, well, I guess now we know."
She further quipped: "You can buy homeware items and cookery items if you so wish. And this will tie into Netflix as well, where we'll probably be seeing Meghan cooking if that takes your interest too."
She then observed how "a big project like this would have had a date in the diary for many, many months" when pointing out it the move was "deliberate" on the part of the Montecito duo.