Meghan Markle vs. Princess Kate's Fans: Duchess Needs to Handle New 'Goop Rip-Off' Line Launch 'Sensitively' to Not Look 'Opportunistic'

Meghan Markle has been advised to tread carefully with the rollout of her glossy new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, amid Kate, Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis.

"As Meghan is no longer part of the monarchy, she is free to launch her brand whenever she likes," PR expert Lynn Carratt dished. "However, given Kate's ongoing cancer treatments, it would be wise for Meghan to be sensitive to the timing of her brand launch, considering the public support for Kate worldwide."

The analyst advised the Duchess of Sussex to "work quietly" on the brand "behind the scenes," and to wait until the Princess of Wales' treatments stabilized.

If Meghan were to go "full throttle" with her brand publicity campaign in the wake of the future queen's revelation, Her Royal Highness' fans would likely "tear the brand apart even worse than it already is," one critical palace insider revealed.

They added: "American Riviera Orchard is the most pathetic sounding thing I have heard in a long while. She was a literal princess and duchess, with the admiration of millions upon millions at her fingertips. Now, she is right back to struggling in Hollywood, hawking a Goop rip-off for profit. How sad is that?"

A recent poll conducted by The Evening Standard in Britain found that Meghan scored just 7 percent in a ranking of the royals, which was right under Harry with 11 percent. Despite this, the former actress' new brand has already amassed over 500,000 Instagram followers in under a week and is said to eventually tie in with a Netflix cooking show. Although unpopular in the country, one palace insider dished that the culinary show's numbers could take off in Britain.

But not everyone is critical of the venture.

"The brand identity itself is interesting," PR and Entertainment expert Mark Boardman dished. "The website uses her recognizable calligraphy and the same developers behind Archewell/Sussex.com, hinting at a personal touch and potentially high-quality products. Notably, the brand utilizes a luxury-inspired logo and a California aesthetic, seemingly avoiding overt royal connections. This could be a way to build an independent brand outside the royal sphere."

He continued: "Meghan Markle's surprise launch of American Riviera Orchard, a lifestyle brand for home, food, garden, and lifestyle goods, is a fascinating venture. The name might be a touch whimsical, but with hundreds of thousands of followers already, her ability to generate buzz is undeniable."

The PR expert concluded: "This venture positions Meghan to capitalize on her Hollywood star power and potentially build a successful luxury brand. While the lack of follower comments might limit engagement, it's likely a calculated move to protect her mental health from online negativity."

Daily Express reported on Carratt's remarks.