Earlier this year, Meghan Markle dipped her toes into entrepreneurship** with the launch of a lifestyle brand called *American Riviera Orchard*. The brand’s first product? Strawberry jam. It’s artisanal, it’s exclusive, and—apparently—it’s got Elton John throwing a full-on diva tantrum.
Meghan debuted her new brand by sending out a limited batch of homemade strawberry jam—just 50 jars—because exclusivity is key when you’re courting the upper crust of influencers, socialites, and VIPs. Among the lucky recipients were Argentinian model Delfina Blaquier (wife of polo player Nacho Figueras), who flaunted her jar, and designer Tracy Robbins, who proudly posted her “17 of 50” jar on Instagram.
So far, so sweet.
But then came whispers of where Meghan may have drawn her inspiration for this fruity endeavor.
While Meghan was busy spreading her strawberry dreams, Elton John was lighting up QVC with his own jam connection. Elton, it turns out, has a long-standing tradition of making jams at his Woodside estate. This juicy tidbit surfaced during a QVC holiday gift show, where Elton promoted his candle collaboration with Slatkin & Co., inspired by his jamming adventures. According to the product description, Elton’s jams are a “symphony of raspberries, orange peel, apples, and vanilla sugar, slowly simmered to perfection.” Unlike Meghan’s, though, Elton’s jams are legendary, credible, and—dare we say—more palatable to the masses.
Cue the collective side-eye: Did Meghan swipe her “jamspiration” from Elton John?
It’s hard not to imagine Elton sitting in his grand piano room, fuming at the thought of Meghan treading on his homemade jam territory. Sure, Meghan might dabble in diva behavior, but Elton is practically royalty in that department. He’s got the cash, the clout, and—apparently—the recipes to back it all up.
But that’s not the end of this sticky situation. Critics argue that Meghan’s jam isn’t just potentially derivative; it’s also ill-conceived. While Elton may have been the immediate comparison, Meghan’s jam also drew unflattering parallels to *King Charles’s Highgrove Collection*. For years, Highgrove has offered high-quality, charitable products—including preserves—with proceeds going to good causes. Meghan’s version, on the other hand, feels more like a glorified passion project, according to skeptics.
The irony? Highgrove’s jam sold out after Meghan launched hers.
While her jam might not be paying the Sussexes’ mortgage—because, seriously, how many jars of jam would that take?—it did have some unintended consequences: boosting the sales of actual artisanal jams.
Critics aren’t holding back, though. Some argue that Meghan’s penchant for borrowing ideas from celebrities is nothing new. Whether it’s Elton John’s jam, Gwyneth Paltrow’s *Goop* vibes, or even royal traditions, the consensus seems to be: originality isn’t Meghan’s forte. “She’d need to sell untold jars of jam—and probably her soul—to make this profitable,” quipped one commenter. Another jabbed, “She thinks making toast requires a degree from the Culinary Institute of America.”
As the chatter continues, some speculate that Meghan may one day end up hawking her jam on QVC alongside Elton. After all, QVC’s embraced crazier ideas. Picture it: Meghan Markle’s strawberry jam in a limited-edition *Duchess Basket*, complete with pinecones and inspirational quotes about “living your truth.”
At the end of the day, jam is jam—until it’s not. For Meghan, it’s a branding exercise. For Elton, it’s a family tradition.
Elton’s marmalade empire remains unshaken, but Meghan’s got one thing going for her: she’s certainly stirred the pot.
