A ROYAL expert has slammed Meghan Markle's decision to launch her new business on the same day as the Princess Diana's awards as a show of "one-upmanship".
Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun that "nothing is accidental" when it comes to the Sussexes - and that Harry and William's separate addresses would have "saddened Diana".
MEGHAN Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the Mail: "It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
"The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
"Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc."
Just hours before William and Harry were due to speak at their late mother's Legacy Award event in London, Meghan released her newest venture on Instagram.
The Duchess' new brand - American Riviera Orchard - is said to focus on home, garden and lifestyle goods and will see her flogging anything from jam to tableclothes, sources told .
It mysteriously appeared online - with a brief biography that the brand is "by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex", alongside its logo and little else - sending eagle-eyed fans wild.
But royal commentator Fitzwilliams said: "The announcement is totally consistent with the timing of all the Sussexes announcements.
"Nothing is ever accidental. They do it to obviously push the news in their opinion."
The choice to do it today, he said, is an "example as to why the split between [Prince William and Harry] is like a Grecian tragedy."
He added: "They are not communicating with each other."
Fitzwilliams said the timing is also particularly significant because of the "extraordinary situation of the last days" being the "media hysteria" surrounding Kate's photoshop scandal.
The Princess of Wales was dramatically forced to apologise on Monday for digitally altering a sweet Mother's Day picture of her and her kids.
Fitzwilliams said: "There's no doubt at all that the Sussexes are making use of the material they have to do a bit of one-upmanship. It's obvious."
And another added dynamic at play, Fitzwilliams explained, is the future of the Sussexes $100million (£80m) Netflix deal.
He claimed both Harry and Meghan are "very nervous about their Netflix contract, which expires next year... as it is absolutely pivotal for them because they lost Spotify."
ALONG with her well-known acting career Meghan Markle has also carved out something of a career in the business world as well.
Before getting engaged to Prince Harry, the Suits actress had her lifestyle blog The Tig but this was closed down when she got engaged in 2017.
The Tig, named after her favourite wine Tignanello, was seen as something as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow's £200million Goop, which offers similar wellness and "conscious living" content.
She previously described it as a "passion project" which "evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity".
Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have produced a podcast, Netflix documentary and memoir, as well as several high-profile interviews between them.
These are said to have made them millions of dollars.
Speaking in docuseries Harry & Meghan, the mum-of-two said of the blog: "It wasn't just a hobby, it became a really successful business.
"I've never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that's how my website was born.
"There was fashion, tons of food, and travel - all the things that I loved."
Rumours emerged in March last year that Meghan was going to relaunch the blog.
Meghan also ventured into the world of children's books with the launch of The Bench in June 2021.
Inside Meghan's 34-page book The Bench, the illustrations give a fresh glimpse into the Sussexes' "authentic" life at their LA home - featuring their then newborn daughter.
The publication was a commerical success with it becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon's chart.
Meghan dedicated her book to the "man and boy who make my heart go pump-pump" in a sweet note for her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
The mum was "inspired" to write the book after originally creating a poem for Harry's first Father's Day.
The royal couple have also been reported to be planning an Oprah-style media empire after registering a series of new entertainment businesses.
A leading royal commentator says the couple "want to earn loads more money" after they filed 11 companies in tax haven Delaware - seven of which are linked to showbiz ventures.
They appear to have names which are meaningful to the couple, with one – Cloverdale Inc – bearing the same name as the street that the Duchess lived on with her mother in Los Angeles when she was young.
Both Cloverdale and a second company, Riversoul Productions Inc, are set up explicitly in the “entertainment” industry, and join companies Hampshire LLC, Bridgemont LLC and IPHW LLC.
The couple are already using name Archewell Productions for their Netflix and Spotify deals.
Fitzwilliams added: "This link to Netflix is very important and clearly, of course, they've released this [American Riviera Orchard] to point out that they, the Sussexes, are still going strong."
Referencing Harry and Meghan's front cover spread on Time's 100 most influential people of 2021, he said: "They certainly wouldn't be on the equivalent today.
"But so long as they keep the Netflix contract, they are somebody.
"Today, they're pointing out that they're still in the running and their links with Netflix are strong and Meghan is back on Instagram - that is the message."
However, tonight Prince William delivered a moving speech about mum Diana as he recalled she taught him that "everyone has the potential to give something back".
He told the audience that he and the Princess of Wales have sought to focus on Diana's legacy through their work.
Prince Harry is also expected to participate in the award ceremony by speaking to the winners via a video call, but his brother has already left the building.
Commenting on the growing rift between the brothers, Fitzwilliams said: "I mean, there's no doubt that relations are at rock bottom, but they apparently haven't spoken for many months.
"There's no sign whatsoever that the rift will be healing."
I'm delighted to be here today to recognise the transformational achievements of twenty exceptional young people from across the world.
Each and every one of their stories - which you will hear shortly - are testament to their character, passion and determination to make a lasting and meaningful difference to the lives of others.
The paths taken by these young people have not always been easy. Many have overcome adversity and prejudice, but they are driven by courage, compassion and commitment - qualities shared by my mother.
Their stories remind us of the importance of organisations like The Diana Award. I've seen on many occasions over the years how this charity empowers and mobilises young people to take action and make the changes they want to see in their communities and the world around them.
Over the next two years, The Diana Award, alongside many of their partners here today, will equip these young people with the skills to have an even bigger impact. I am excited to see what they can do together.
This evening's Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award - a charity set up to reflect my mother's belief that young people can change the world.
I know that she would have been honoured to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe.
She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back; that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life.
That legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years.
I am so proud to see this belief of my mother's manifested in the amazing young people receiving the Legacy Award tonight.
Thank you.
Harry quizzed a group of young Diana Legacy Award winners in the "casual"; video chat.
He told them: "Thank you, very much, for inspiring so many others and at the same time protecting my mother’s legacy.
"I really appreciate that. And, again, well done on this fantastic group of individuals."
