Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been slammed for their “self-promotion” efforts conducted during the Trooping the Colour birthday celebrations for King Charles III at the weekend.
The royal expert was left shocked after Meghan’s ‘American Riviera Orchard’ products were displayed on social media around the same time as Princess Kate’s first official royal appearance this year.
Kinsey Schofield, speaking on Talk TV, discussed why the products were promoted online by Harry’s friend, Nacho Figueras, on his social media platform, noting: “If you can’t buy the product on American Riviera Orchard, which you can’t, then what this amounts to is just self-promotion.”
She added: “I can’t believe this is real. It makes these two look so small. Here comes the self-promotion train that is the Sussex team.”
Meghan Markle gifted dog biscuits and more jars of jam to one of Prince Harry‘s close friends, and Nacho showed off the gifts thought to be from the Duchess’ lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard on his Instagram story.
A jar of raspberry jam and dog biscuits were gifted to polo-playing pal Nacho. The dog biscuits were given in a large glass jar, also with a handwritten label and Nacho posted a photo of them next to his pup, Nina Iggy.
Kinsey also commented on efforts made by Meghan: “Times are rough over in Montecito when it’s dog biscuits you are trying to use to upstage the Princess of Wales. How petty. How small.”
Princes Kate made her first public appearance at this year’s Trooping the Colour on June 15. It marks her first public appearance this year, as she last stepped out on Christmas Day. She had to take a step back from public duties following major abdominal surgery in January and her subsequent cancer diagnosis.
Kate revealed she has “good days and bad days” undergoing gruelling chemotherapy for cancer but acknowledges she’s “not out of the woods yet”.
Senior working royals attended the King’s official birthday celebrations and this week, many have made an appearance at Royal Ascot – a family favourite event.
Kinsey said: “Prince Harry must be sitting back and watching his old world and thinking I miss that aspect of my life. I am sitting in Montecito California with no friends apart from Ellen DeGeneres.”
Also speaking of the timing of the social media post, Talk TV host, Kevin O’Sullivan added: “Callous timing, deliberate timing, in my view. Meghan might want to deny that. She hasn’t said anything for weeks.”
Since unveiling ‘American Riviera Orchard’ in March by launching its website and Instagram account, Meghan has provided no other details on what the brand will entail.
It’s since been revealed, through the PR packages and a copy of the trademark application, that it will sell a range of food and homeware goods.
Although critics have questioned the timing in which Meghan’s products were displayed on social media, a source has told The Daily Beast this was not Meghan’s order or decision.
The source claimed: “While I am sure the gift packages came with notes requesting social media coverage, you can’t tell Nacho Figueras what to do, so I think it’s certain the timing of his post was his own idea.”
Following the first launch of her brand, Meghan sent jars of strawberry jam to 50 close friends and influencers, including Chrissy Teigen, fashion designer Tracy Robbins and socialite Delfina Blaquier.