MEGHAN Markle made a “ridiculous” blunder hours before Trooping the Colour, a royal expert said.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, sparked controversy after a “very, very odd” American Riviera Orchard move – PR’s would have warned her against it.
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Just hours before the major royal event, Trooping the Colour, Meg decided to launch two new American Riviera Orchard products.
Harry’s polo pal Nacho Figueras shared a snap on Instagram of his luxury raspberry jam and some dog biscuits sent by the former Suits actress.
You can’t make sense of what the Sussexes have done. They should just have been quiet
Richard Fitzwilliams
Meanwhile, hubbie Harry failed to acknowledge King Charles’ official birthday on Saturday – and seemingly ignored Father’s Day.
By stark contrast, Prince William posted a heartwarming snap of himself as a tot with Charles in a show of support amid his ongoing and courageous health battles.
Speaking to The Sun exclusively about Meghan’s ill-timed brand roll out, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “Megan and Harry know perfectly well every single thing they do is monitored by the press.
“The idea that they would do something on the day of Trooping the Colour. I mean, it’s pretty silly.
Duty & family mean everything to Kate
By ARTHUR EDWARDS, Sun Royal Photographer
THE Royals were one big happy family on the Buckingham Palace balcony as the Princess of Wales made an emotional one-off appearance.
This was a brave return to public life for Catherine, who has valiantly battled cancer for the last three months.
She did not have to be at Trooping the Colour and no one would have blamed her for staying away.
But she still chose to attend.
It is a measure of just how much her duty and family mean to her.
I have not seen the Princess of Wales in person since her last public engagement on Christmas Day, more than six months ago.
Yesterday she looked very well and, crucially, very healthy too.
While the photo released on Friday by Kensington Palace was a solemn snap, yesterday Catherine beamed with joy – her smile will undoubtedly warm the nation’s heart.
Accompanied by William, who has soldiered on alone while supporting his sick wife, and her adorable children, the whole group looked relaxed and united throughout one of the most important days of the year for the Royal Family.
It was also lovely to see Catherine exchanging words with her father-in-law King Charles.
Both of them battled hard to return to their duties and even through a long lens you can tell they have genuine warmth for each other.
The only downside was the classically British weather.
It was cold.
It was wet.
My jacket and my camera were soaked.
Next Thursday will be the longest day of the year but the driving rain made me feel like I was in the middle of January.
Yet the moment the Princess emerged to wave and smile, it made bearing the downpour worthwhile.
There were a lot of smart outfits on show – it was a military parade after all – but the Princess of Wales’ stunning white dress was a cut above everyone else’s.
Almost every camera there was fixed on her and with exceptional taste she picked out a dress that could be seen down The Mall by thousands of well-wishers.
This was a remarkable return by a remarkable woman and I’m sure it would’ve meant the world to have her family by her side.
So it’s no surprise that she didn’t stop smiling throughout.
“I mean, it is a clash of a sort. What was done was just silly. We know in March Meghan launched American Riviera Orchard.
“We know that she sent some 50 jars of strawberry jam to some of her pals and influencers, she had a few endorsements, but this wasn’t really very impressive.
“There weren’t many A-listers who said how wonderful it was.
“What’s so odd is that she did anything on the day of Trooping the Colour at all, it doesn’t make any sense.
“The label on the jar said two of two, if she’s only going to send two jars out, what on earth is the point?”
“I don’t think it’s been thought out. This makes no public relations sense. It’s ridiculous.”
‘NEVER CARED’
Mr Fitzwilliams added that the duke and duchess are known for distracting and diverting attention away from royal events.
“The Sussexes have never cared about the royal protocol, that you don’t have a diary clash,” said the expert.
“Meghan would not have been advised to do this by any of her public relation consultants. This is something of a joke.
“It’s very, very odd. If she just sent the jam to a friend, she should have asked him not to post it, because otherwise it clearly makes them objects to mockery.”
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The royal commentator added how it was a “weird” choice amid the Royal Family’s ongoing “pressures”.
“The official birthday of Harry’s father, who is battling cancer.
“And since this was so significant that Catherine was able to watch the parade from the office in Horse Guards, and also appear on the balcony, and that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
“So you can’t make sense of what the Sussexes have done. They should just have been quiet.”
FATHER’S DAY SILENCE
Meanwhile, Harry also failed to share a message to his father on the special Sunday, as brother Wills uploaded a sweet post.
King Charles similarly posted an adorable photograph of himself as a baby with his father Prince Philip.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams suggested Charles would feel “indifferent” not to receive a Father’s Day show of support from his “wayward” son.
He claimed the Royal Family have more important priorities than dealing with Harry and Meghan drama.
The Sussexes have never cared about the royal protocol, that you don’t have a diary clash
Mr Fitzwilliams
“Greetings or no greetings, it the way the individuals behave towards each other,” added the commentator.
“That was put under the microscope quite recently, and I mean it was just very, very weird.
“We know that Harry will be appealing the issues of security, and there may well be a further court appearance.
“We also know that he talked about coming over, possibly periodically, to see his father.
AMERICAN RIVIERA ORCHARD
By Becky Pemberton
MEGHAN Markle will soon be launching her American Riviera Orchard brand and could market herself as the “US Nigella Lawson”, according to a brand expert.
However, the Duchess of Sussex, 42, may face some challenges as she attempts to create a “domestic goddess in the kitchen” image across the pond.
Professor Pauline Maclaran, a marketing and consumer research professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, told BBC: “I would see this as a much more domestic goddess kind of market.
“With these new regal connections now, and, you know, promoting elegance.”
Professor Maclaran claimed that Meghan is positioning herself to be the next Nigella Lawson and Martha Stewart.
One issue Meghan could face is that although she shared recipes on her now-defunct blog The Tig, the former Suits actress isn’t necessarily known for her cooking and doesn’t technically have any formal training as a chef.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “Meghan has no track record of being a top cook so she’d struggle to be a Californian Nigella Lawson.
“There is a danger you can spread yourself too much doing several things, none of them well. Meghan is known as an actress so people might not take her seriously in the kitchen.
“To be fair she wouldn’t be the first celebrity who has decided to cash in on culinary shows for the masses despite not having much experience.”
But perhaps formal cooking training doesn’t matter.
“But nothing has come of that, so we will simply have to wait and see what his intentions are.
“But the relationship which the Sussexes have with the media is far too close sometimes, for instance Harry talking to Good Morning America after visiting Charles in February.
“The Sussexes object to the way the media covers them.
“But, my goodness me, if you look at the way, in recent years they’ve used the media. I mean it’s been ruthless at times.”
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