In an attempt to rebrand herself as a domestic icon akin to Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart, Meghan Markle sent 50 fortunate individuals a jar of her strawberry jam. The product, which hails from American Riviera Orchard, was distributed to influencers and acquaintances. However, since its launch, fans have raised suspicions that Meghan did not personally craft the jam herself. Instead, they allege that she borrowed another company's jam, added some stickers, and now hopes to profit from it.
One of the jam suppliers, Small Batch Jam Co, has denied being involved in Meghan's peculiar jam venture. Responding to an inquiry on their Instagram page, they clarified that they have a strict "no faux royal" policy and were not the creators of the jam with the criticized label. They even joked about the misaligned application of the labels, implying that Meghan's attempt was comical.
This small jam maker, clearly not a fan of Meghan's, appears to be an experienced artisanal producer. They emphasize that their jam is the real deal and distance themselves from Meghan's seemingly copied idea and appearance. The two jars bear striking similarities, from the rustic muslin covering to the label design. Adding to the intrigue, the jam company is also based in California, making it difficult to believe that Meghan thought they wouldn't notice.
While Megan's introduction of the first product under the American Riviera Orchard brand garnered attention and excitement, it unintentionally boosted sales of a similar item sold in King Charles' personal Farm Shop. Richard Eden, a reliable source, reported that there was a surge in demand for strawberry jam following Meghan's unveiling. The King has been selling various home and garden products using materials and produce from his organic farm, which has been in operation since the 1990s.
Commenting on the situation, royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths humorously pointed out that King Charles may have the last laugh. She revealed that the high demand for his High Grove strawberry conserve led to it being sold out within hours of Meghan's jam images circulating on social media. The High Grove estate, transformed into a fully functioning organic farm in 1985, opened its shop to the public in 1992, offering a wide range of jams, preserves, and other home and body products.
Amidst the ongoing saga, Griffiths couldn't help but jest about Meghan's connections, saying, "Back to the jam thing, the other big joke that's been running all week is how does she know 50 people to send jam to? After all, this is a woman who doesn't have 50 friends, as far as we can tell." With speculation and amusement surrounding Meghan's jam endeavor, the controversy adds another layer to the ongoing narrative of her post-royal life.
